Zee Entertainment has secured the Indian broadcast rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The historic 48-team tournament kicks off on June 11, with Zee officially acquiring the rights to the competition just 11 days before the opening game between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca.

This agreement, rumored to be worth between $30 million and $35 million for the 2026 edition alone, is part of a larger rights deal between Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. and FIFA that covers 39 FIFA events from 2026 to 2034. This includes the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup, FIFA Futsal World Cups, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Zee entered the race for the 2026 World Cup rights in India after JioStar, which had acquired the 2022 FIFA World Cup rights holder Viacom18, failed to reach a deal with world football’s governing body. The initial sticking point was the ability to recoup investment through advertisement revenue, given that nearly 90 percent of the games are scheduled between midnight and 6 a.m. domestic time, in addition to FIFA’s rumored initial asking price of $100 million.

Zee’s FIFA World Cup rights deal in India is a multi-lingual, multi-platform agreement spanning linear TV and streaming. This means football fans in India can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup live in English or Hindi on the Unite8 Sports channels. Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD offer Hindi-language coverage, while Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD will broadcast the World Cup in English.

Additionally, viewers can stream live 2026 FIFA World Cup matches on the Zee5 app, available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for mobiles, tablets, laptops, desktops, and other devices. Zee’s coverage extends beyond live matches, with the broadcaster’s rights deal also including World Cup-related documentaries and other potential content.

Zee Media Corporation holds the official broadcast rights to the World Cup in India. The deal covers season 2030.

Zee Media Corporation is the official broadcast partner of the World Cup in India. The agreement covers season 2034.

In India, fans can watch live World Cup matches on DD Sports, available on both TV and streaming platforms. Coverage is confirmed for season 2026.