FIFA strikes a last-minute World Cup deal with Zee for India

The deal, announced 10 days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, follows protracted rights negotiations with broadcasters in India.

According to Reuters, FIFA had initially sought $100m for broadcast rights covering the 2026 and 2030 tournaments before revising its price to a reported $60m. India’s largest platform JioStar, which aired the 2022 World Cup, reportedly bid $20m. Sony, which broadcast the 2014 ​and 2018 tournaments, withdrew from the process. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal gives Zee ​a foothold in India's sports broadcast market, where Reliance-Disney joint venture JioStar holds key rights, including the Indian Premier League cricket tournament and the English Premier League.

The agreement also secures wide distribution of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in a strategic market, alongside major men’s, women’s, and youth tournaments, and documentary content.

Under the partnership, Zee will deliver coverage of 39 FIFA events from 2026 to 2034, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, and the FIFA World Cup 2030.

Also included in the deal are the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, the FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup, FIFA Futsal World Cups, and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The agreement also covers documentary content linked to these competitions.

“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 Romy Gai, Chief Business Officer at FIFA. “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.”

“We are excited to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences,” added Punit Goenka, CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises. “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.”

FIFA recently agreed a first-of-its-kind preferred platform agreement with TikTok ahead of this year’s World Cup. Discover more here.