Overview

• The government confirmed Televisión Pública will not purchase the 2026 rights, framing the move as an economic decision rather than a political one.
• The break ends a continuous run of state participation in World Cup broadcasts that dates back to 1974.
• Authorities said the choice could be revisited before December if conditions change.
• The move fits broader spending cuts and follows a failed deal that kept the 2024 Argentina–Chile qualifier off the public channel.
• State coverage of Qatar 2022 cost about $10 million and generated roughly $12 million in advertising, with about 20% coming from public-sector advertisers.