India’s Zee Entertainment announced it has acquired the broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with 38 other FIFA events spanning eight years through 2034, including the 2027 Women’s World Cup [1, 2, 3, 4]. The deal ended a months-long standoff to sell rights in India, one of the few major global markets still unsold for the tournament [1, 2, 3, 4].
The agreement covers a total of 39 FIFA events over eight years. Financial terms were not disclosed publicly. FIFA initially sought about $100 million for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups rights in India but later reduced the asking price to $60 million [1, 2, 3, 4]. A joint venture between Reliance and Disney, JioStar, had offered about $20 million but was rejected [1, 2, 3, 4]. Sony, which held the Indian rights for the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, discussed the bid but ultimately did not place an offer for 2026 [1, 2, 3].
The 2026 World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, starting on June 11, 2026. The final match will take place on July 19, 2026, in New Jersey at 19:00 GMT, corresponding to 12:30 a.m. July 20 in India [1, 2, 3, 4]. Due to the large time difference, most matches will air late at night in India, which presents challenges for attracting viewers [2, 4].
Karan Taurani, Executive VP at Elara Capital, noted that the Indian sports market is dominated by cricket and the Indian Premier League, which limits football’s appeal. "Only a small fraction of people who watch the Indian Premier League will watch the FIFA World Cup. An even smaller fraction tune in past midnight to watch a match," he said [4]. He also observed that most monetization for major sporting events now comes from digital platforms, contributing to limited interest in FIFA World Cup broadcasts [4].
Shares of Zee Entertainment rose about 7% on the day of the announcement [2, 4]. The previous 2022 World Cup rights in India were held by Viacom18 for approximately $60 million, with matches aired in more favorable time zones for Indian viewers [2, 4].
The broadcast deal secures Zee Entertainment's coverage of key FIFA events over the next eight years. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11, with live telecasts expected to start on the same day.
