KBC Secures Free-to-Air Rights for 2026 World Cup

Millions of Kenyan football fans will be able to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup live and free after the government approved funding for the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) to acquire free-to-air broadcast rights for the tournament.

The announcement ends months of uncertainty over whether the national broadcaster would secure the rights in time for football’s biggest event, which kicks off on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi confirmed on Thursday that the government had unlocked funding for the deal after earlier financial constraints threatened to derail KBC’s plans.

Speaking while hosting FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia at the National Treasury Building in Nairobi, Mbadi said the government had moved to ensure Kenyans would not miss the global football spectacle.

“I know we had some challenges in sponsoring KBC to air it, but we have unlocked that,” Mbadi said.

He added that he had spoken with KBC Managing Director Agnes Nguna earlier in the day and confirmed that funding had already been approved to support the acquisition of the rights.

Shortly afterward, Nguna announced during KBC’s lunchtime news bulletin that the Cabinet had authorized the release of funds to enable the public broadcaster to secure the free-to-air package.

“We are pleased to inform the Kenyan public that the honourable Cabinet, through a directive, approved funds to acquire free-to-air broadcasting rights for KBC to air the FIFA World Cup,” she said.

“This means that Kenyans will be able to watch the matches live and free on air without any subscription fees. Our team is now finalising the rights with the rights holder to ensure that every Kenyan is able to enjoy this global sporting event from the comfort of their home.”

The development comes after concerns were raised in Parliament earlier this year that KBC lacked the estimated Sh150 million required to secure the broadcasting rights. In March, the National Assembly’s Committee on Communications, Information and Innovation warned that the country risked missing free-to-air coverage unless funding was secured.

Before the government’s intervention, pay television operators including SuperSport International, Azam TV and New World TV were among broadcasters listed as rights holders for the tournament in the region.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in the competition’s history, featuring 48 teams and a record 104 matches across 39 days. The tournament will be staged across three countries for the first time, with matches hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

For many Kenyan households, KBC’s acquisition of the rights will provide the only opportunity to follow the tournament live without paying subscription fees. Previous World Cups, including the 2022 tournament in Qatar, were also broadcast free-to-air by KBC following government support.

The announcement has been welcomed by football fans across the country, many of whom had feared they would be forced to rely on costly pay-TV services to watch the tournament.

With funding now secured and final negotiations underway, KBC is expected to unveil its full World Cup broadcast schedule in the coming days, paving the way for nationwide coverage of the world’s most watched sporting event.