Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Wednesday guaranteed live broadcast of World Cup matches for Thai football fans.
Gen Prawit said all Thais will have a chance to watch the competition live from Russia, although the broadcast rights - worth about 1.3 billion baht - have not been settled.
The deputy prime minister, who is chairman of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), said the costly rights posed no problems for Thailand. He declined to give details.
Potential broadcast partners have been put off by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission’s regulation stipulating that live major sporting events such as the World Cup and Olympics must be aired on free TV as well.
Gen Prawit held talks with Gen Yutthasak Sasiprabha, the advisor to the president of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, on the sidelines of the SAT board meeting at Government House.
Russia will host the World Cup's final rounds from June 14-July 15. The hosts join 31 other teams in the competition, including defending champions Germany.
Thai fans have enjoyed watching all World Cup matches live since 1990.
