ZEE5 will offer coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India across four languages: Hindi, English, Bangla, and Malayalam. The service features a commentary panel comprising notable football figures such as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Bhaichung Bhutia, Robin Singh, Paul Masefield, Igor Stimac, Rajat Ghosh-Dastidar, I M Vijayan, and Seema Jaswal, among others.
The platform aims to engage India’s growing and passionate football community by providing an immersive multilingual viewing experience that allows fans from different regions to connect with the tournament through familiar languages.
The commentary line-up includes Indian legends and international experts who will offer tactical analysis and behind-the-scenes insights to enhance viewers’ understanding of the event. The English broadcast team features Igor Stimac, Bhaichung Bhutia, Paul Masefield, Ashley Westwood, and Seema Jaswal. The Hindi panel consists of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Aditi Chauhan, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Manish Batavia, Atish Thukral, Sahil Khattar, Arpit Sharma, and Arjun Pandit. Robin Singh and Karan Sawhney will provide bilingual Hindi-English commentary.
The Malayalam team includes Jo Paul, I M Vijayan, N P Pradeep, Shyju Damodaran, and Shiyas Mohammad, while the Bangla coverage will be led by Rajat Ghosh-Dastidar, Debjit Ghosh, Arnab Mondal, Pallab Basu-Mallick, and Argha.
Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer of Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “The FIFA World Cup is one of the world’s most premium sporting properties, bringing together billions of fans through a shared passion for football. As we bring the tournament to audiences across India, it was important for us to deliver a viewing experience that is not only world-class but also deeply relevant to Indian fans. Through ZEE5’s coverage in English, Hindi, Bangla and Malayalam, supported by an exceptional line-up of presenters, commentators and football experts, we aim to make every match more immersive, insightful and engaging for audiences across the country. For ZEE5 and Unite8, this tournament marks an important milestone in our long-term partnership with FIFA and reflects our commitment to building a more diversified and future-ready sports portfolio.”
Commenting on his participation, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stated, “For Indian football fans, the FIFA World Cup has always been more than just a tournament; it is an event that inspires generations to dream bigger and connect more deeply with the sport. As someone who has seen the growth of football culture in India up close, I am excited to join ZEE5 and contribute to conversations that bring viewers closer to the emotional and tactical side of the game. What makes the World Cup special is its ability to unite fans across regions, languages, and backgrounds, and I am looking forward to celebrating that passion with audiences throughout the tournament.”
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.