Zee Entertainment Enterprises (Z) has secured media rights for FIFA tournaments in India through 2034, marking a significant expansion of its sports business and strengthening its position in football broadcasting.
Under the agreement, Zee will broadcast 39 FIFA events between 2026 and 2034 across its television channels and digital platform Zee5. The rights package includes marquee tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA World Cup 2030 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, along with related documentary content.
The football calendar on Zee’s platforms will begin with the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to kick off on June 11, 2026. In addition to the men’s World Cups, the broadcaster will air a range of FIFA competitions, including the FIFA Men’s U-17 World Cup, FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup, FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup, FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Futsal Men’s World Cup, FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
To support its sports ambitions, Zee has announced the launch of four dedicated sports channels—Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. The tournaments will also be available on Zee5 with multilingual viewing options.
Punit Goenka, CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, said the partnership reflects the company’s long-term belief in football’s growth potential in India. He noted that the investment in media rights and dedicated sports channels is aimed at expanding the sport’s reach while creating sustainable growth opportunities for the company.
Romy Gai, FIFA’s chief business officer, described India as a strategically important market with a young and passionate audience. He said Zee’s extensive broadcast and digital ecosystem would help broaden football’s reach across the country.
According to Zee, the partnership forms part of its broader strategy to build a diversified sports business, drive subscriber growth across television and digital platforms, and create new opportunities for advertisers.
Mukund Galgali, deputy CEO and chief financial officer at Zee, said the deal represents a key step in establishing a long-term presence in the sports ecosystem, while Sandeep Mehrotra, chief operating officer for advertisement revenue, highlighted the potential for brands to engage audiences through a mix of live sports and entertainment content.
The agreement gives Zee one of the most comprehensive football rights portfolios in the Indian market and positions the company to capitalise on growing interest in the sport over the coming decade.
