Zee Entertainment Enterprises has partnered with FIFA to broadcast 39 global football events in India between 2026 and 2034. The agreement has included rights to major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA World Cup 2030 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, along with several youth, futsal and intercontinental competitions.
The company has secured rights to FIFA Men’s U-17 World Cup (2026-2034), FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup (2026-2034), FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup (2027, 2029, 2031 and 2033), FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 and 2034), FIFA Futsal Men’s World Cup (2028 and 2032), FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup (2029 and 2033), FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 and FIFA Intercontinental Cup (2026-2030), in addition to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and FIFA World Cup 2030. The football coverage has been scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026.
As part of the initiative, Zee Entertainment has announced four dedicated sports channels, Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. The company has also confirmed that the tournaments will be available on Zee5, with live streaming and multi-language viewing options.
The partnership has also included rights to documentary series linked to the FIFA tournaments. Zee Entertainment has said the content will cover the grassroots communities, cultures and stories associated with participating nations.
Commenting on the partnership, Punit Goenka, CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “We are excited to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences. 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.”
Speaking about the partnership in India, Romy Gai, FIFA Chief Business Officer, stated, “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. 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.”
Speaking about the strategic rationale behind the investment, Mukund Galgali, Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “The partnership with FIFA marks a significant step in our journey to create a strong foundation in the sports ecosystem to drive long-term value creation. Football as a sport has tremendous under-leveraged potential in a country like India and we see a massive opportunity in unlocking its mass appeal for billions of viewers across the Nation. Our approach in the sports business is anchored in building a scalable and financially sustainable growth model through a disciplined capital allocation framework. We view sports as a powerful catalyst to unlock long-term economic and social value by translating the growing passion for sports to contribute meaningfully towards the Nation’s aspirations.”
Sandeep Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer – Advertisement Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said, “As we strengthen our presence in the sports ecosystem, we are equally focused on building a high-value advertising environment that delivers scale and depth of engagement. Our diversified sports and entertainment portfolio provides brands an opportunity to tap into varied consumer cohorts and leverage the full spectrum of live sporting moments and meaningful content formats. With our structured efforts, we are unlocking a new monetization avenue, while participating in the larger growth story of sports in India.”
