Free World Cup Coverage Begins
The early morning silence at Angkasapuri shattered into pure excitement on Friday as Radio Televisyen Malaysia launched its live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Local football fans gathered alongside media figures and corporate penajas for a vibrant broadcast viewing ceremony. Together, they watched the historic opening ceremony and the tournament’s first official game.
This massive screening event unified sports fans in a spirit of goodwill. Key officials attended the viewing, including Communications Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah. International guests also joined the celebration, with Mexican Ambassador Luis Javier Campuzano and South African High Commission Chargé d’Affaires Alleta Maseko witnessing the action live.
Mexico Secures Opening Win
On the pitch, co-host Mexico enjoyed a dream start to their Group A campaign by defeating South Africa 2–0 at the iconic Azteca Stadium. Forward Julián Quiñones scored the first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute with a sharp finish. Later in the second half, veteran striker Raúl Jiménez sealed the victory with a powerful header.
The physical encounter kept the crowd at Angkasapuri on the edge of their seats. The referee handed out three red cards during the match, which forced South Africa to finish with just nine men. Despite the intense on-field drama, the atmosphere in Kuala Lumpur remained celebratory as fans cheered every single play.
Complete Nationwide Access
As the official public broadcaster, RTM is dedicated to keeping world-class sports accessible to everyone. The network will broadcast all 104 matches live across TV1, TV2, Okey, and Sukan+. Furthermore, the government has allocated RM24 million to support this initiative, ensuring comprehensive television coverage for viewers nationwide.
Strategic partnerships with the corporate sector have made this free coverage possible. Unifi TV serves as the primary broadcasting partner, while CelcomDigi, Unifi, and UMobile have stepped in as official broadcast penajas. This collaboration allows fans to stream matches on mobile devices through the newly updated RTMKlik mobile application.
The celebration at Angkasapuri extended far beyond the digital screens. Attendees enjoyed interactive street soccer courts, food trucks, and trivia quizzes that ran until dawn. With months of football action ahead, the public broadcaster has successfully set the stage for an unforgettable summer tournament.
