Football fans in India can tune to Zee network channels and streaming platforms to watch the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. After months of uncertainty, Zee Entertainment Enterprises has secured the Indian broadcast and streaming rights for 39 FIFA tournaments scheduled between 2026 and 2034, marking a major long-term expansion into global football broadcasting.
Apart from this year’s World Cup, the portfolio includes marquee events such as the FIFA World Cup 2030 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.
This deal also represents the first-ever collaboration between Zee Entertainment Enterprises and FIFA. Along with senior men’s and women’s competitions, the agreement covers an extensive lineup of youth and indoor tournaments, including the U-17 and U-20 World Cups for both genders, the FIFA Futsal World Cups, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup through 2030. Several documentary productions linked to these events are also part of the package, according to Variety.
Under the broadcast rollout plan, coverage will commence on June 11 with the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener. Matches will be aired through four newly launched linear sports channels, Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, and Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English, alongside digital streaming on ZEE5.
"We are excited to bring one of the world's biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences," Punit Goenka, CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said. "Football cuts across regions and demographics, and the investments in garnering the media rights and launching dedicated sports channels reflect our clear belief in its long-term potential."
From FIFA’s perspective, the partnership underscores India’s growing significance as a sports consumption market. "The Indian market is of strategic importance for FIFA as it displays immense potential driven by a young and passionate audience," Romy Gai, FIFA's chief business officer, added.
The agreement follows an extended phase of negotiations over broadcast rights in India. Earlier reports cited by Variety indicated that FIFA initially valued the 2026 and 2030 World Cups at around USD 100 million but later revised expectations to nearly USD 60 million. Competing bids were significantly lower, with JioStar reportedly offering USD 20 million, while Sony eventually exited the bidding process. The final financial terms of the Zee–FIFA agreement have not been disclosed.
"Football as a sport has tremendous under-leveraged potential in a country like India, and we see a massive opportunity in unlocking its mass appeal for billions of viewers across the Nation," Mukund Galgali, Zee's deputy CEO and CFO, said.
Zee’s existing Unite8 Sports network already features a mix of cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling, and combat sports. With this FIFA partnership, the broadcaster is making a decisive push to broaden its footprint in a market long dominated by cricket, with the 2026 World Cup set to serve as its first major global football test case in India.