Myanmar Group Urges FIFA to Revoke World Cup Rights from Military-Linked Broadcaster

FIFA is facing pressure over its decision to grant exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 World Cup in Myanmar to Mytel, a telecommunications company. Justice For Myanmar, a prominent rights group, has urged the global football governing body to revoke these rights, arguing that Mytel serves as a significant revenue stream for the military regime that seized power in the nation in 2021.

The controversy emerged recently as Mytel commenced its local advertising campaign for the upcoming tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Justice For Myanmar highlighted that Mytel is a joint venture involving both the Myanmar military and Vietnam's military-controlled Viettel, making it a direct contributor to the military's finances amidst an ongoing civil conflict in the country.

The military's takeover in 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government, has led to widespread international condemnation and sanctions. The rights group contends that by granting broadcast rights to Mytel, FIFA inadvertently undermines these international efforts and its own commitment to human rights. They explicitly stated that FIFA should immediately reverse its decision, uphold human rights principles, and avoid actions that could be seen as supporting the sanctioned regime.