The massive news is official: Zee Entertainment has locked down a historic, long-term deal with FIFA, securing the broadcast and streaming rights in India from 2026 all the way through 2034.

After months of tense bidding wars and speculation, this ensures fans won’t miss a single minute of the expanded, 48-team tournament kicking off on June 11.

How to Catch the Action in India

Zee is spreading the coverage across both digital and television platforms, introducing a brand-new sports network just in time for the tournament.

Live Streaming (Digital)

• Platform: ZEE5

• Details: ZEE5 will be the exclusive home for live streaming all 104 matches on mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs. Expect multi-language commentary options to cater to fans across different regions.

TV Telecast (Linear)

• Network: Unite8 Sports (Zee’s newly launched dedicated sports network)

• Channels to look for:

  • Unite8 Sports 1 & Unite8 Sports 1 HD (Primarily Hindi coverage)

  • Unite8 Sports 2 & Unite8 Sports 2 HD (Primarily English coverage)

Why This Deal Was a Last-Minute Blockbuster

The broadcast rights were a major cliffhanger this year. FIFA initially targeted a massive $100 million valuation for the Indian market. However, because the tournament is being hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the kick-off times are quite challenging for Indian viewers (mostly landing past midnight or early in the morning).

While other major networks like JioStar and Sony backed away from FIFA’s initial asking price, Zee stepped in with a mega-deal. The partnership doesn’t just cover the 2026 World Cup; it spans 39 major FIFA events over the next 8 years, including:

• The 2030 Men’s FIFA World Cup

• The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup

• Various Youth U-17 and U-20 World Cups, Futsal tournaments, and exclusive FIFA documentary content.

The action starts June 11 (early hours of June 12 in India) with the opening clash featuring Mexico vs. South Africa live from the iconic Estadio Azteca.

Are you planning on staying up for those brutal 12:30 AM and 3:30 AM Indian Standard Time kick-offs, or relying heavily on ZEE5 catch-up highlights?

Read more

. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here | Live on ZEE5 and Unite8 Sports

. Rip The Script | Nike Football

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