World Cup: Myanmar rights group is urging FIFA to reverse exclusive broadcast rights to company linked to the country’s military government
"A Myanmar rights group urges FIFA to drop Mytel’s World Cup rights over connections to military", 12 June 2026
...A Myanmar rights group is urging FIFA to reverse its decision to grant exclusive World Cup broadcast rights to a U.S.-sanctioned company linked to the country’s military government that seized power of the five years ago...
Mytel, one of Myanmar’s four telecom operators, is a joint venture between the Myanmar military and Vietnam’s military-controlled Viettel. Launched in 2018, it provides revenue to Myanmar’s military and has been a major target of the opponents of the military and the focus of a consumer boycott...
Mytel did not answer calls, return a voicemail message or respond to an emailed request for comment. FIFA also did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
FIFA launched an open tender for Myanmar media rights in September 2025 before selecting Mytel.
Mytel was added last year to a list of entities in Myanmar, also known as Burma, sanctioned by the U.S. Commerce Department for “actions and activities that are contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the Untied States”...