Zee Entertainment Enterprises has officially secured the rights to broadcast the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India and will telecast the tournament through its new sports network, Unite8 Sports, along with streaming on Zee5. Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., one of India's largest media companies based in Mumbai, announced the deal on Monday.
The World Cup will be broadcast on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD (Hindi), Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD (English). Digital streaming will be available on Zee5. The network will cover 39 global football events, including the 2026 and 2030 men's FIFA World Cups and the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
When tournament starts, how long rights last
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Zee has secured media rights for FIFA events in India until 2034. The company will broadcast matches across its television and digital platforms, with commentary in multiple languages.
Why Zee re-entered sports broadcasting
Zee is returning to sports broadcasting after a gap of eight years. It had sold its sports channels to Sony Pictures Networks (now Culver Max Entertainment) in 2018. The company first entered the sports space in 2005 with Zee Sports and later acquired Ten Sports. Its new strategy focuses on profitability and diversified sports content, including football, cricket, kabaddi, badmindi, wrestling and combat sports.
How Unite8 sports will work
Unite8 Sports will launch seven channels in total, including Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 2 and their HD versions in Hindi and English. Regulatory applications for the launches have already been filed. The network aims to attract younger and urban audiences, strengthen Zee's sports portfolio and grow subscriber and advertising revenue.
Football fever in Kerala and West Bengal
Even though India is not playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football fans in Kerala and West Bengal are celebrating the tournament as a homecoming. In Kerala, from Malappuram to Kochi, Argentina, Brazil and Portugal supporters organise bike rallies, banner displays, late-night screenings and local fan gatherings. Street walls are painted with the colours of competing nations, and cut-outs of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo appear in public spaces. WhatsApp groups and social media pages that stay quiet after one World Cup spring back to life before the next edition, bringing old football friendships together.
West Bengal has a different but equally powerful football story. Kolkata and other parts of Bengal have a long connection with the sport through club football, local tournaments and deep emotional loyalty. During the World Cup, Brazil, Argentina and Germany supporters create a festival-like atmosphere with jerseys, flags and community screenings. For millions of Indian fans, supporting these teams is not casual entertainment but a tradition inherited from family members, local clubs or childhood memories of watching legends.
The expanded World Cup format will give Indian fans more matches, more teams and more late-night football moments. Fan clubs across India are expected to become highly active with match screenings, prediction contests, jersey campaigns, bike rallies and online discussions. This strong mix of global football and local emotion makes India one of the most passionate World Cup fan bases outside the participating nations.
Read more news like this on www.etnownews.com