Zee Entertainment Enterprises has secured the broadcasting and streaming rights in India for 39 FIFA soccer events from 2026 to 2034, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2030 FIFA World Cup and 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the company said on Monday.
The first agreement between Zee and FIFA also includes a portfolio of age group and futsal tournaments for both men and women, as well as a documentary series related to each facility. Eligible events include the FIFA Men’s U-17 World Cup and FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup from 2026 to 2034, the FIFA U-20 Men’s and Women’s World Cup cycles, the FIFA Futsal Men’s and Women’s World Cup, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup until 2030.
Coverage will begin with the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11 and will be broadcast on four newly launched linear sports channels (Unite8 Sports 1 and Unite8 Sports 1 HD in Hindi, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD in English) and Zee’s streaming platform ZEE5.
Punit Goenka, CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “We are excited to bring one of the world’s biggest sports shows to the Indian audience.” “Football transcends geography and demographics, and our investment to acquire media rights and launch a dedicated sports channel reflects our clear belief in the long-term potential of football.”
Romy Guy, FIFA’s Chief Business Officer, added: “The Indian market is of strategic importance to FIFA and represents immense potential, driven by a young and passionate audience.”
The agreement marks a significant development in India’s long-running rights negotiations. As previously reported by Variety, FIFA originally sought $100 million for broadcast rights covering the 2026 and 2030 tournaments, but later revised its request to around $60 million. JioStar, India’s largest platform, had offered $20 million, and Sony withdrew from the process. Financial terms of the current transaction were not disclosed.
“We believe there is huge untapped potential for soccer as a sport in a country like India and a huge opportunity to unlock its mass appeal to billions of viewers across the country,” said Mukund Galgali, Zee’s Deputy CEO and CFO.
Besides football, Zee’s Unite8 Sports portfolio already includes cricket, kabaddi, badminton, wrestling and martial arts. The partnership with FIFA expands the company’s footprint in a rights market that has historically been dominated by cricket, with the 2026 World Cup serving as its biggest early test.
