Semarang, Feb. 1 -- The Central Java provincial government has pledged to facilitate free public viewings of football matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June and July this year.

Central Java Regional Secretary Sumarno conveyed the commitment at a World Cup kick-off event organized by state-run television TVRI, which has secured broadcast rights for all 104 matches in Indonesia.

"Football is immensely popular; it has become the favorite sport not only among urban residents but also among those living in remote villages," he remarked in Semarang, Central Java, on Sunday.

He urged all district and municipal governments across the province to follow suit, expressing hope that the free-to-air broadcast of the world's most...