Mumbai: As the FIFA World Cup 2026 enters its knockout stage, Zee5 has strengthened its expert panel with the addition of former England striker and Liverpool FC legend Robbie Fowler. The former footballer will offer tactical analysis, player insights and expert commentary as the tournament heads into its decisive phase.
One of the most prolific goalscorers of his generation, Fowler scored 183 goals in 369 appearances across two spells with Liverpool, making him the club’s seventh-highest goalscorer. He also earned 26 caps for England, scoring seven goals and representing the national side at UEFA Euro 1996, UEFA Euro 2000 and the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking ahead of the business end of the tournament, Robbie Fowler said, “The FIFA World Cup is football at its absolute best. Once you get to the knockout rounds, every match feels like a final and the pressure goes up another level. This is where heroes are made and where the smallest moments can define history. We’ve already seen some incredible stories in this tournament, and I think there are still plenty of twists to come.”
On the unpredictability of modern tournament football, he added, “The gap between the traditional powerhouses and the rest of the world has never been smaller. We’ve already seen Norway knock out Brazil, which shows that no team can afford to take anything for granted. That’s what makes this World Cup so exciting – every team believes they have a chance and every match brings something different.”
Following his illustrious playing career, Fowler moved into coaching and management, taking charge of clubs including Muangthong United, Brisbane Roar, East Bengal FC and Al-Qadsiah. His coaching experience across Thailand, Australia, India and the Middle East has broadened his understanding of the modern game while strengthening his connection with Indian football through his stint with East Bengal FC.
Expressing his excitement about joining the platform, Fowler said, “I’m delighted to join Zee 5’s expert panel and look forward to sharing my thoughts and bringing fans closer to the biggest moments of the World Cup. Naturally, as an Englishman, I’ll be cheering for England, but this World Cup has shown that every team left in the tournament is capable of producing something special.”
Commenting on the development, Bavesh Janavlekar, Chief Business Officer, Unite8 Sports, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said, “The FIFA World Cup is one of the few sporting events that brings fans across the world together. At Zee 5, we aim to make that experience even more engaging for audiences in India. As the tournament reaches its most exciting stage, we are delighted to welcome Robbie Fowler to our expert panel. His achievements as one of England’s greatest forwards, combined with his experience as a coach across different footballing markets, will bring valuable perspectives and enrich the viewing experience. Alongside our stellar line-up of Indian and international football experts, Robbie’s insights will help fans connect more deeply with the biggest moments of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Fowler joins a distinguished panel of football experts on Zee5 that includes Oliver Kahn, Sunil Chhetri, Bhaichung Bhutia, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and other leading voices from the sport. The platform said the expanded panel is aimed at delivering comprehensive pre-match build-up, live analysis, post-match reactions and exclusive insights throughout the remainder of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
