New Delhi: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. has strengthened its presence in the sports broadcasting space by securing media rights for several major FIFA tournaments in India through 2034.
It also announced the launch of four dedicated sports channels ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The company said the partnership with FIFA will bring some of the world’s biggest football events to Indian audiences, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA World Cup 2030, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. The agreement also covers a range of FIFA youth and futsal tournaments, along with documentary content linked to the competitions, the company said in a press release.
As part of its expansion plans in sports broadcasting, Zee has launched four new channels – Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. The company said the channels will help deliver football content to viewers across the country, while its digital platform Zee5 will offer live streaming and multilingual coverage of the tournaments.
The broadcaster stated that the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on June 11, will be among the marquee events on its sports network. Zee will also serve as the Indian destination for the centenary edition of the FIFA World Cup in 2030.
Under the agreement, Zee will broadcast several FIFA competitions, including the FIFA Men’s U-17 World Cup from 2026 to 2034, the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup from 2026 to 2034, the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in 2027, 2029, 2031 and 2033, the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 and 2034, the FIFA Futsal Men’s World Cup in 2028 and 2032, the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup in 2029 and 2033, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup from 2026 to 2030.
The company said the deal also includes rights to documentary series related to the tournaments, focusing on grassroots football communities, cultural narratives, and the competitive journeys of participating nations.
In a statement, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Chief Executive Officer Punit Goenka said the company was excited to bring one of the world’s biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences. He stated that football transcends regions and demographics, adding that the investment in media rights and dedicated sports channels reflected Zee’s belief in the sport’s long-term potential. He further said the partnership with FIFA aligned with the company’s growth strategy and would help unlock greater value from football while enhancing the experience for fans.
FIFA Chief Business Officer Romy Gai said India was a strategically important market for FIFA because of its young and passionate audience. He noted that Zee’s extensive television and digital distribution network, combined with its understanding of local viewers, would help expand the reach of football across the country.
