Zee Entertainment seals last-minute India deal to broadcast 2026 World Cup

Zee Entertainment has secured the broadcasting rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India, ending a prolonged standoff with football’s governing body less than 10 days before the tournament kicks off on 11 June.

The deal, estimated to be worth between $30 million and $35 million according to SportStar, resolves one of the last major unsold rights packages ahead of the tournament. FIFA had initially sought around $100 million for a combined India package covering the 2026 and 2030 World Cups before reducing its asking price to $60 million. A comparable standoff over Chinese broadcast rights was resolved in mid-May.

“We are excited to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences,” said Punit Goenka, chief executive of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. “Football cuts across regions and demographics, and the investments in garnering the media rights and launching dedicated sports channels reflect our clear belief in its long-term potential.”

The announcement drew an immediate response from Indian football supporters. “Thank you on behalf of all Indian football fans,” Vineeth Vijayan wrote on X. Fan Vishwam Prajapati added: “At a time when football fans in India felt unseen, Zee chose to stand beside us.”

Zee will broadcast matches across its newly launched United 8 cluster of sports channels, with its flagship app ZEE5 providing live-streaming. The group launched four new sports channels as negotiations with FIFA were under way, giving it a foothold in a market currently dominated by the Reliance-Disney joint venture JioStar, which holds rights to properties including the Indian Premier League and the English Premier League.

JioStar, which aired the 2022 World Cup through its predecessor Viacom18, had reportedly offered just $2 million for the 2026 rights — a figure FIFA rejected outright.

One practical challenge for Indian viewers is timing: with matches hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, most kick-offs will fall between approximately 10.30pm and 9am IST. The final at MetLife Stadium in New York is scheduled to begin at 12.30am India time on 19 July.

This edition of the World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, expanding the tournament to a record 104 matches across the three host nations.