Panaji: Football fans across India are set to get full access to the FIFA World Cup 2026 after Zee Entertainment Enterprises secured the India media rights for the tournament, ending months of uncertainty over who would broadcast football’s biggest event in one of the world’s largest viewing markets.
The deal gives Zee the rights to air the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India and is part of a wider agreement covering 39 FIFA events from 2026 to 2034, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The matches will be shown on Zee’s newly launched Unite8 Sports channels and streamed on ZEE5, ensuring that Indian audiences can follow the tournament across television and digital platforms.
The development is being seen as a major boost for sports broadcasting in India, especially for football followers who had been waiting for clarity as the tournament approached. With the 2026 edition expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada, the World Cup is expected to generate strong viewership despite time-zone challenges for Indian audiences.
Zee has also used the acquisition to strengthen its sports footprint, launching four dedicated sports channels under the Unite8 Sports brand and positioning football as a key long-term property in its broadcast strategy. The company has additionally announced that 15 per cent of football-related subscription revenue will be directed toward grassroots football development, linking the rights deal with wider ambitions for the sport’s growth in India.
For Indian football lovers, the agreement comes as a significant relief and a welcome sign of the sport’s rising value in the country’s media landscape. With one of the world’s most watched sporting events now secured for Indian viewers, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to bring a fresh wave of football excitement to households across the country.
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