Zee secures FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasting rights for India in 8-year deal

Indian media company Zee has secured the broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India, concluding an important 8-year deal that resolves months of uncertainty about where Indian football fans would be able to watch the upcoming tournament.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by three countries and represents a significant expansion of the tournament format. For the first time in World Cup history, 48 teams will participate, divided into 12 groups, representing an increase from the previous 32-team format.

For the Indian market, one of the world's largest television audiences, clarifying the broadcasting rights was particularly significant. India Today had previously reported on the uncertainty surrounding broadcast rights, as fans were left wondering where they would be able to follow the tournament. With Zee's deal, this question has now been resolved.

The 8-year contract suggests that the agreement may extend beyond the 2026 World Cup and could include additional FIFA tournaments. This would secure Zee a long-term position in sports broadcasting in India, a market with over one billion potential viewers.

Alongside broadcasting rights developments, FIFA has also announced new rule changes for the 2026 World Cup. A significant innovation is the ban on team talks during goalkeeper injury breaks. This measure aims to prevent tactical timeouts that could artificially interrupt the flow of play.

Preparations for the 2026 World Cup are already underway at full pace. Teams are beginning their planning for what will be the largest football tournament in history. The expansion to 48 teams means more matches, a longer tournament duration, and greater global reach.

For Zee, this deal represents a significant investment in premium sports content. Football World Cups are among the most-watched sporting events globally and can attract millions of viewers. In India, where cricket traditionally dominates, interest in football is steadily growing.

Zee's securing of the broadcasting rights comes in an increasingly competitive market for sports broadcasting in India. Various media companies compete for premium sports content, as these can generate high viewership ratings and advertising revenue.

FIFA has also announced additional rule changes aimed at modernizing the game and preventing time-wasting tactics. The ban on team discussions during goalkeeper injury breaks specifically targets the practice of using medical timeouts for tactical purposes, which has become increasingly common in recent years.

The expanded 48-team format will feature 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a new round of 32. This represents a significant change from the traditional format and will provide more opportunities for teams from different confederations to participate.

With the broadcasting rights now clarified, Indian football fans can look forward to the 2026 World Cup without concerns about transmission availability. The expanded format with 48 teams promises more matches and potentially more exciting group configurations than previous tournaments, making Zee's investment in these rights particularly valuable for reaching Indian audiences.