Zee Entertainment secures 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights in India

Monday 01 June 2026 - 09:35

India’s Zee Entertainment Enterprises has announced that it has secured the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well as 38 additional FIFA tournaments through 2034, marking a major development in the country’s sports media landscape.

The agreement ensures that Indian audiences will be able to follow the 2026 tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, through Zee’s broadcasting platforms. The deal also ends months of uncertainty over the availability of FIFA content in one of the world’s largest emerging sports markets.

Although financial details were not officially disclosed, earlier market reports indicated that FIFA had initially valued the India broadcasting package at around 100 million US dollars, later reducing expectations to approximately 60 million dollars amid negotiations.

The deal comes shortly before the start of the tournament on June 11, highlighting the strategic timing of the agreement. Competing broadcasters, including the Reliance-Disney joint venture JioStar, had reportedly offered significantly lower bids, while Sony Group Corporation, a previous rights holder for earlier editions of the World Cup, chose not to participate in the final bidding process.

Industry analysts see the agreement as a significant win for Zee Entertainment, strengthening its position in India’s competitive sports broadcasting sector and expanding its long-term global sports portfolio.