Zee bags FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights in India, secures FIFA events until 2034

Indian football fans will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Zee after the broadcaster secured exclusive rights to air the tournament in India, ending months of uncertainty over the event's availability in the country, as per reports.

The agreement was announced just days before the World Cup begins on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. India had remained one of the few major markets without a confirmed broadcaster as FIFA held prolonged negotiations with multiple media companies.

Under the deal, Zee has also acquired rights to 38 additional FIFA tournaments and events through 2034, ensuring long-term coverage of international football for Indian audiences.

Reports suggest that the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and that FIFA initially sought around $100 million for the India rights package covering the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before revising its valuation. Several broadcasters reportedly explored the opportunity, but negotiations did not result in an agreement until Zee's successful bid.

The acquisition guarantees Indian viewers access to the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup, which is set to be the largest edition of the tournament in history.

India’s leading sports broadcaster JioStar, the Reliance-Disney joint venture that had televised the 2022 FIFA World Cup through its predecessor Viacom18, reportedly submitted a bid of around $20 million for the broadcasting rights. However, FIFA rejected the offer.

Sony, which held the Indian broadcast rights for the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, also explored acquiring the package but eventually chose not to place a formal bid.

As part of its expanded sports strategy, Zee reportedly announced the launch of four dedicated sports channels Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. The channels are expected to serve as key platforms for FIFA and other sporting content over the coming years.