Confirmed normal broadcast of the World Cup in Korea, Football Association: "Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman) had an emergency call with FIFA... Response received"

*This content was translated by AI.

Concerns were raised that Korean football fans might not be able to watch the matches of the 2026 FIFA CONCACAF World Cup knockout tournament on TV, but the Korean Football Association's swift response ensured that all matches would be broadcast normally. The rumors of a broadcast suspension, sparked by some media reports of unpaid fees, have been resolved as a mere incident.

A KFA official stated on the afternoon of the 23rd (local time), "Japanese media outlets reported erroneous content regarding the World Cup broadcast in Korea, so we directly checked the situation. We have finally received a response from FIFA stating that the broadcasting rights holder in Korea can broadcast all matches as scheduled without any issues."

Earlier, Japan's 'TBS News' reported exclusively that "JTBC in Korea, which holds the World Cup broadcasting rights, is facing financial difficulties, including filing for corporate reorganization, and has failed to pay part of the broadcasting fees to FIFA. If the unpaid amount is not paid by the deadline, there is a concern that TV broadcasts in Korea after the knockout tournament starting on the 29th may not be recognized."

With the South Korean national team sitting in second place in the group with one win and one loss (3 points), giving them a very high chance of advancing to the Round of 32, the bad news sent the anxiety of domestic football fans to its peak.

In response, Chung Mong-koo personally took charge of the situation. The official stated, "Chung Mong-koo had an emergency call with FIFA Secretary-General Matthias Kramm on the evening of the 22nd, immediately after the reports from Japan emerged, to directly check the domestic broadcasting rights situation. Additionally, Chung Mong-koo requested active cooperation from FIFA to ensure that Korean football fans can enjoy the World Cup without any problems."

As a result, the KFA received an official response from FIFA on the afternoon of the 23rd stating, "The broadcasting rights holder in Korea can broadcast all matches as scheduled without any issues."

The association official concluded the controversy over the broadcast suspension by stating, "Not only the knockout matches of the South Korean national team, but all matches of this CONCACAF World Cup will be broadcast normally in Korea as scheduled."

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*This content was translated by AI.