KUALA LUMPUR: The wait is over for Malaysian football fans, as Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has confirmed that the 2026 Fifa World Cup will be aired via Unifi TV and RTM.
During his weekly press briefing this afternoon, Fahmi confirmed that both Unifi TV and RTM have secured the broadcasting rights for the tournament, which is to be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
This year’s edition will be the largest in history, featuring a record 104 matches and expanding to include 48 teams.
“Unifi TV will air all 104 matches, while RTM will air the majority of the tournament,” said Fahmi.
Fahmi said he was not in the thick of negotiations to secure the broadcasting rights between the concerned parties and Fifa but added that the government had allocated RM24 million for the exercise.
He also said several sponsors have already been identified and will be revealed soon.
RTM has been the primary free-to-air broadcaster in Malaysia for the world’s biggest football competition since the 1974 World Cup in West Germany. However, the broadcaster has faced challenges in the past; notably in 1982, when RTM were short of funds and “people power” ultimately ensured the matches reached Malaysian screens.
On June 14, 1982, The Malay Mail reader Peter Teo—writing under the pseudonym ‘Soccer Fanatic’—suggested to the now-defunct newspaper that fans would not mind donating RM1 each to help fund the telecasts.
The idea took the nation by storm. Within days, the “People’s Live Telecast Fund” was launched on June 19. Following a wave of public donations, RTM was able to broadcast four World Cup matches live, with enough surplus funds to also air the Fifa World All-Star charity match on Aug 7 that year.
