According to the Arabic Facebook page of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation will transmit the soccer World Cup for free in Arabic.
In 2010, Israel tried unsuccessfully to buy the rights. This year it managed to obtain them – for €6.3 million.
The matches will be shown on the Arabic-language Israeli channel, Makan. Viewers in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and the Palestinian territories will also have access.
Until now Qatar’s BeIN Sports had the exclusive Middle East rights for the Cup, but the matches would be shown on a subscription-only service, with viewers paying $45.
Sources: Verdict, Egypt Independent, Jerusalem Post
