Last Updated:
Indian football fans can finally breathe easy. Zee has secured FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights, with matches airing on new sports channels and streaming on Zee5.
(Credit: AFP)
The long-running uncertainty surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast in India has finally come to an end.
With less than two weeks remaining before football’s biggest tournament kicks off, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) has officially secured the rights to broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11, will be available on Zee’s newly launched Unite8 Sports channels and streamed live on Zee5.
The deal ensures that Indian fans will not miss out on the first World Cup to be staged in North America since the United States hosted the event in 1994.
Why the Deal Matters
The broadcast agreement arrives after weeks of uncertainty. Unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which benefited from viewer-friendly timings and was acquired by Viacom18, this edition presents a scheduling challenge for Indian audiences because of North American time zones.
That reportedly discouraged several major broadcasters from entering the bidding process.
Zee Becomes FIFA’s Long-Term Broadcast Partner
The agreement goes far beyond the upcoming tournament. Zee has signed an eight-year partnership with FIFA, giving it rights to several marquee events through 2034.
Along with the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the centenary edition in 2030, Zee will broadcast the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, youth World Cups, futsal tournaments and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Which TV Channels Will Broadcast 2026 FIFA World Cup in India?
To support its football ambitions, the broadcaster has launched four dedicated sports channels — Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD.
Match Timings for Indian Viewers
Indian fans should prepare for some late nights and early mornings.
Matches in cities such as Atlanta, Dallas and Houston will generally begin between 9:30 pm and 10:30 pm IST. Fixtures on the Pacific Coast, including Vancouver and San Francisco, could start as late as 9:30 am IST.
The opening match, semi-finals and final are scheduled to begin at 12:30 am IST, ensuring football supporters will have plenty of midnight action to look forward to this summer.
About the Author
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His…Read More
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
