

Indian soccer fans keen on watching Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mbappe and other iconic stars in action on the biggest stage on earth, have been a worried lot over the continuing uncertainty of whether the FIFA World Cup would be telecast here. Well, it seems that Zee will likely get the FIFA World Cup broadcast rights in India to telecast and live stream the event on TV and mobile. Sources have suggested that the FIFA World Cup broadcast rights In India will likely go to Zee Entertainment Enterprises, barring some last-minute hiccups. That may put an end to months of uncertainty about whether fans in India would even get to watch the tournament on TV.
The holdup was mostly about money. FIFA wanted a high price for the rights, and that scared off major Indian broadcasters. But Zee has stepped in at the last moment.
The agreement covers both television and digital streaming.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026 with Mexico vs South Africa at the Azteca. The group stage runs until June 27, 2026, followed by the Round of 32 from June 28 to July 3, 2026. The Round of 16 is July 4–7, 2026, quarter-finals July 9–11, 2026 and semi-finals July 14–15, 2026. The third-place playoff is on July 18, 2026, and the final takes place on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This edition features 48 teams, 1-104matches, and three host nations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.