Mumbai: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (Z) has announced a landmark partnership with FIFA to bring a wide portfolio of global football events to Indian audiences, positioning itself as the home of football in the country over the next eight years.
Under the agreement, Zee has secured rights to broadcast 39 major FIFA events from 2026 to 2034, including the FIFA World Cup 2026™, FIFA World Cup 2030™, FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2027, youth tournaments, futsal championships, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup™, and a range of football-focused documentary content.
The move marks a significant step in Zee’s strategy to build a diversified and value-accretive sports portfolio while expanding its presence in India’s growing sports entertainment ecosystem.
Drawing inspiration from the words of Swami Vivekananda on the importance of physical strength and sport in shaping the nation’s youth, the company said the partnership reflects its commitment to making football more accessible to audiences across India and inspiring a new generation of fans and players.
The football festival will begin with the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which kicks off on June 11, 2026. Zee will also serve as the destination for the tournament’s centenary edition in 2030.
As part of the agreement, Zee will broadcast major FIFA properties including the 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, FIFA Intercontinental Cup™ (2026–2030), along with the FIFA World Cup™ tournaments in 2026 and 2030.
In addition to live sporting action, Zee has secured rights to documentary series and behind-the-scenes content associated with these tournaments, offering audiences deeper insights into the participating nations, football cultures, grassroots ecosystems, and sporting journeys.
To support its football ambitions, Zee has also announced the launch of four dedicated sports channels — Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. The company’s OTT platform Zee5 will simultaneously stream the events, providing multi-language and digital-first viewing experiences for football fans across the country.
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Punit Goenka, CEO, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. 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.”
The partnership forms a key pillar of Zee’s long-term strategy to strengthen its sports business while unlocking new opportunities across subscriber growth, digital engagement, advertiser partnerships, and audience expansion.
Speaking about the strategic rationale behind the investment, Mukund Galgali, Deputy CEO & Chief Financial Officer, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. 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.”
The company believes football presents significant untapped growth potential in India and sees the sport as a powerful medium for youth engagement, national pride, and long-term sports ecosystem development.
Highlighting the commercial opportunities associated with the expanded sports portfolio, Sandeep Mehrotra, Chief Operating Officer – Advertisement Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. 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.”
With the FIFA partnership, Zee aims to deepen football’s reach across India while creating a scalable sports ecosystem that serves viewers, advertisers, and stakeholders alike. The company said its integrated television and digital strategy, coupled with dedicated sports channels and marquee global rights, will help strengthen football’s presence among Indian audiences and contribute to the broader growth of the country’s sports culture.
