Zee Entertainment has secured the Indian media rights for the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups. The matches will air on Unite8 Sports channels. They will also stream on Zee5.
The deal covers several FIFA events through 2034. It includes the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It also includes the U-17 and U-20 World Cups. The agreement covers women’s youth tournaments as well. It also marks a major step in its sports broadcasting plans.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will be the first World Cup with 48 teams.
The agreement is a major step for Zee as it returns to sports broadcasting. The company recently launched Unite8 Sports channels and is building a portfolio that already includes cricket, football, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling, and combat sports.
The rights deal came after FIFA and JioStar reportedly could not agree on pricing for the tournament. Zee then moved in and completed the agreement.
For Indian football fans, this means the next two men’s World Cups and several other FIFA tournaments will be available on Unite8 Sports and Zee5.
Zee Entertainment Enterprises shares jumped around 6% after the company officially secured the India broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The deal is seen as a major win for the broadcaster as it strengthens its return to the sports market.
The agreement gives Zee rights to show the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups in India. It also includes several other FIFA events, including women’s and youth tournaments. Matches will be shown on Zee’s new Unite8 Sports channels, while streaming will be available on ZEE5.
The market reacted positively because football has a massive audience in India despite the country’s limited presence on the international stage. FIFA data from the 2022 World Cup showed India contributed 2.9% of the global linear TV audience, trailing only China in total engagement.
Investors also see long-term value in the deal because it gives Zee access to multiple FIFA tournaments until 2034. The company has recently expanded its sports portfolio. It now broadcasts football, cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling etc.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. And will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
Indian broadcasters were hesitant to buy media rights. The economics did not look attractive compared to the price FIFA was asking.
FIFA reportedly started by seeking around $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 World Cup rights package. Even after reducing the asking price, broadcasters still felt the deal was expensive relative to the revenue they could generate from the Indian market.
The biggest reason was cricket. Broadcasters are already spending huge amounts on the IPL and ICC events, which deliver much larger audiences and more advertising opportunities. Football matches run continuously, so there are far fewer commercial breaks than in cricket. That makes it harder to recover costs.
The match timings were another major concern. The 2026 World Cup will be played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. So many games will start late at night. Some will start early in the morning in India. That could reduce live viewership. That could also reduce advertising revenue.
The sports broadcasting market has also changed. The merger that created JioStar reduced the number of major bidders. So FIFA had fewer buyers willing to pay high prices.
Football is popular in India. But its audience is more regional than cricket’s. The sport has strong support in Kerala, Goa, West Bengal, and the Northeast. However, advertisers often prefer events with wider national reach.
There has also been a decline in football media rights values in India. The fees for the Premier League, La Liga, and the Indian Super League have dropped in recent years. This has made broadcasters more cautious about large investments.
That opened the door for Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. The company secured the rights for the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups. The deal also includes several other FIFA events. Zee appears to be using these tournaments to strengthen its network
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition in the tournament’s history. For the first time, 48 teams will compete for the trophy. The event will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Matches will be played across 16 cities.
The tournament begins on June 11. Hosts Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match. The final will take place on July 19. Defending champions Argentina will be looking to retain the title.
The new 48-team format marks another major expansion. The World Cup started with 13 teams in 1930. It expanded to 24 teams in 1982 and then to 32 teams in 1998. The latest change gives more countries a chance to qualify and compete on the world stage.
Several nations will make their World Cup debut in 2026. These include Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
A. The matches will be shown on Unite8 Sports channels. You can also stream on Zee5.
A. The tournament will be hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A. It will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams.
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