Two football fans watch a 2018 Russia World Cup football match between on a TV screen outside a restaurant in Beijing on July 3, 2018. | AFP-JIJI

Hong Kong – Swathes of soccer-mad Asia from China and India to Malaysia and Thailand are yet to confirm broadcast rights for the biggest-ever World Cup with kick-off barely one month away.

Unsociable match times in the region are one of the reasons why hundreds of millions of fans have been left sweating about whether they can watch from their sofas.

Football's showpiece is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and begins on June 11 when the Mexicans face South Africa.

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