Millions of football fans in Kenya can finally breathe a sigh of relief after the government released funds for the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) to acquire the rights to televise live the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
The 23rd edition of football’s showpiece show will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The 39-day extravaganza, featuring 48 countries, starts on June 11.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said on Thursday that the government had resolved the stalemate surrounding the free-to-air television beaming of the tournament in the country by the public broadcaster, as had been the tradition over the years.
“I know we had some challenges in sponsoring KBC to air it (2026 World Cup) but we have unlocked that,” Mbadi stated when he hosted the 2025/26 FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia at the National Treasury Building in Nairobi.
“This morning (Thursday) I actually spoke to KBC Managing Director Agnes Nguna and there is something she is working on. We have already approved funding from the national government to support the airing of the tournament,” added the CS.
“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,” Nguna announced during KBC’s lunchtime news.
“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 on 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.”
According to Fifa’s list of media partners for the World Cup, pay TV providers Azam TV, New World TV, and SuperSport International are the only broadcasters that have acquired the rights to air the tournament in Kenya.
Previously, the Ministry of Sports, through the Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund, has supported the station by providing the funds needed to acquire the broadcasting rights.
On March 24, the National Assembly’s Committee on Communications, Information and Innovation (COIC) warned that Kenyans risk failing to watch the tournament on KBC because the station did not have the Sh150 million needed to buy the broadcast rights.
Fifa regulations require host broadcasters and national rights holders to air a selected number of World Cup matches on free-to-air television.
KBC secured the exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, and it has similarly aired live previous editions.
