Prime Minister Confirms Free Broadcast of 2026 World Cup for Thais

Bangkok: The Prime Minister has confirmed that the Thai public will be able to watch the 2026 World Cup free of charge. The announcement came after the Cabinet acknowledged the need to broadcast the event live, with the Prime Minister instructing the Public Relations Department to collaborate with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to ensure this. According to Thai News Agency, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul shared that the Cabinet had been briefed on the live broadcasting plans for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The government is committed to facilitating this process through coordination between the Public Relations Department and the NBTC, mirroring previous years' efforts. In response to questions about whether the government would directly purchase the broadcasting rights or allow a private company to do so, the Prime Minister stated that the specifics would be managed by the relevant authorities. He reassured the public by nodding in agreement and affirming, "Of course it will be free," when asked if Thais could watch the World Cup without charge.