ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD (Z) has acquired the Indian media rights for a range of FIFA tournaments through 2034, including the upcoming World Cup 2026, World Cup 2030 and the Women’s World Cup 2027.
Under the partnership, Z will deliver coverage of 39 FIFA events across this period, spanning men’s, women’s and youth competitions. These include the U-17 World Cup, the U-20 World Cup, the Women’s U-17 World Cup, the Women’s U-20 World Cup, Futsal World Cups, and the Intercontinental Cup, alongside the flagship World Cup tournaments. The agreement also covers documentary content linked to these competitions.
The broadcaster will air:
* (Men’s) World Cup 2026 and World Cup 2030
* Women’s World Cup 2027
* Men’s U-17 World Cup (2026-2034)
* Women’s U-17 World Cup (2026-2034)
* Men’s U-20 World Cup (2027, 2029, 2031 and 2033)
* Women’s U-20 World Cup (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 and 2034)
* Futsal World Cups and FIFA Intercontinental Cup events covered under the agreement
The acquisition comes after months of speculation over which media company would emerge as FIFA’s partner in India ahead of the expanded 48-team World Cup 2026.
To support its expansion in live sports, the company had last week announced the launch of dedicated channels: Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. Matches will also be streamed live on the company’s OTT platform, ZEE5.
The acquisition strengthens the company’s position in the sports broadcasting market and is expected to help grow viewership across television and digital platforms.
“The FIFA World Cup is the greatest show on earth, and we are glad to partner with ‘Z’ for the first time, to bring this global spectacle to India,” said FIFA’s chief business officer Romy Gai.
“The Indian market is of strategic importance for FIFA as it displays immense potential driven by a young and passionate audience. We believe the extensive broadcast and digital distribution ecosystem of ‘Z’, coupled with their deep understanding of local viewers and multi-platform capabilities, will play a pivotal role in expanding the reach of football with fans across every part of India.”
Z chief executive officer Punit Goenka indicated that football’s appeal across regions and demographics makes it a strong long-term investment. He suggested that Zee has focused on acquiring properties that combine immediate relevance with future growth potential and believes the FIFA partnership will help unlock greater value from the sport while supporting the company’s growth objectives.
Goenka further said the investment reflects the long-term potential of football in India and aligns with the company’s strategy of building a sustainable presence in premium live events.
“We are excited to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences,” said Goenka.
“Football cuts across regions and demographics, and the investments in garnering the media rights and launching dedicated sports channels reflect our clear belief in its long-term potential. Our approach has been to invest in properties where we see current relevance and future growth potential. Our partnership with FIFA will enable us to unlock the true value of the sport in line with our sharp focus on growth and profitability, while amplifying the excitement of the game for every fan.”
According to Mukund Galgali, Z deputy CEO and CFO, the partnership is part of a broader effort to establish a scalable business around premium global sporting properties through disciplined investment.
World Cup football rights will be a leading piece of the broadcaster’s portfolio of live sporting properties, which as per the official release issued when the launch of Unite8 Sports was announced last week, includes cricket, kabaddi and other events, as it seeks to expand its footprint in India’s growing sports media sector.
