Huge relief for Football fans across India as Zee secures FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights

Zee Entertainment has strengthened its presence in the sports broadcasting space after acquiring the media rights for 39 FIFA events in India from 2026 to 2034. The landmark agreement includes some of football’s biggest competitions, such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 and FIFA World Cup 2030, giving Indian fans access to top-tier international football through Zee’s platforms for the next eight years.

The deal comes ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Zee confirmed that all matches will be telecast on its sports network, while live streaming will be available on Zee5. Apart from live coverage, viewers can also expect highlights, expert analysis, feature shows and FIFA-related content throughout the tournament.

Major boost for Zee’s sports ambitions

The acquisition marks one of Zee’s biggest investments in sports broadcasting. With competition in the Indian sports media market intensifying, securing FIFA rights gives the network a premium global property and an opportunity to attract a wider audience.

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The package covers a range of FIFA tournaments across men’s, women’s and youth football, ensuring a steady flow of international football content on Zee’s platforms until 2034.

The move is also expected to strengthen the broadcaster’s newly launched sports venture and expand its footprint in the rapidly growing football market in India.

Indian football fans set for uninterrupted coverage

The announcement ends months of uncertainty over the broadcaster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. Football followers now have clarity on where they can watch the tournament and future FIFA events.

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The 2026 edition will be the largest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. With Zee securing the rights, Indian viewers will be able to follow every major moment of the competition through television and digital streaming. The agreement also ensures long-term access to FIFA tournaments, bringing some of the biggest names and events in world football closer to Indian audiences.

Bigger World Cup, bigger audience

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams instead of 32.

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The expanded format means fans will get to watch 104 matches during the competition, making it the largest World Cup in history.

Apart from the men’s World Cup, Zee’s agreement with FIFA also covers several global football events, ensuring long-term access to international football content for Indian audiences.

The partnership provides a clear broadcast destination for football fans in India and sets the stage for extensive coverage of one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.