Indian football fans will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on television and digital platforms after Zee secured a long-term broadcasting agreement with FIFA. The deal, finalized after extensive negotiations, grants the broadcaster rights to air FIFA tournaments in India until 2034, marking a significant development for football coverage in the country.
The agreement comes shortly after Zee expanded its sports portfolio with the launch of seven dedicated sports channels. The acquisition of FIFA rights is expected to strengthen the network’s presence in the sports broadcasting market and provide Indian viewers with access to some of football’s biggest global events.
According to Reuters, Zee emerged as the sole negotiating party for the rights after JioHotstar maintained its valuation of approximately $20 million. The newly signed agreement reportedly covers 39 FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, and extends through 2034.
The timing of the announcement is notable, as the FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. India was the last major market to finalize a broadcasting arrangement for the tournament. However, the competition is expected to present viewing challenges for Indian audiences, with more than 90 percent of the matches set to be played between midnight and 6 a.m. Indian Standard Time.+
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The latest deal follows a difficult experience for previous rights holders. Earlier FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights had reportedly been acquired for $60 million, but JioHotstar was unable to recover even half of that investment, raising concerns about the commercial viability of football broadcasting in the Indian market.
Financial details of FIFA’s agreement with Zee have not been officially disclosed. Reports indicate that FIFA initially sought around $100 million for the combined rights to the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cups before reducing its expectations to approximately $60 million. Zee was reportedly willing to offer a figure in the region of $35 million. Since the arrangement also includes rights to additional FIFA events over the following years, the final valuation of the deal is likely to differ from earlier estimates.
The agreement secures a long-term broadcasting partner for FIFA in India and ensures that fans will have access to major international football tournaments over the next decade.
