Ananya Lohia , Mumbai - Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd has acquired the India media rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and 2030 editions, bringing the world’s biggest football tournament to its television network and digital platform Zee5.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to begin on June 11 in the USA, Mexico and Canada, will be the first edition to feature 48 teams and 104 matches. Indian fans will be able to watch every match live across Zee’s platforms. Apart from the men’s World Cups, Zee has also secured rights for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 and other FIFA events till 2034. While the financial details were not officially revealed, reports suggest the deal for the 2026 and 2030 editions was valued between $30 million and $35 million. Zee CEO Punit Goenka said the partnership reflects the company’s long-term vision for football and sports broadcasting in India. He added that the network aims to expand the sport’s reach across regions and audiences.

Reliance-Disney and Sony Pictures Networks India had also explored the India rights, but negotiations did not materialise. Sony previously held the FIFA World Cup rights for the 2014 and 2018 editions. The matches are expected to be broadcast on Zee’s newly launched Unite8 Sports channels and streamed on Zee5 in multiple languages.