Zee Entertainment Partners with FIFA to Bring Major Football Events to India
Exciting New Partnership with FIFA
New Delhi, June 1: Punit Goenka, the CEO of Zee Entertainment Enterprises, shared his enthusiasm regarding the company's new strategic alliance with FIFA, which aims to introduce one of the largest sporting events globally to Indian viewers.
Zee will broadcast a variety of significant FIFA tournaments, 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), and FIFA Intercontinental Cup (2026-2030), along with the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030, as stated in a press release.
‘Z’ partners with FIFA to bring 39 global football events including FIFA World Cup 2026™, FIFA World Cup 2030™ & FIFA Women’s World Cup™ 2027 for Indian fans!
Click here to read more: https://t.co/ikr5nUF1Ck#FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup2026 #FIFAonZ pic.twitter.com/jQodlVJh7T
— ZEE (@ZEECorporate) June 1, 2026
Goenka expressed, “We are thrilled to bring one of the world’s most significant sporting events to Indian audiences. Football transcends regions and demographics, and our investment in securing media rights and launching dedicated sports channels demonstrates our strong belief in its long-term potential.”
He further mentioned that Zee's strategy focuses on investing in properties that hold both current significance and future growth potential.
“Our collaboration with FIFA will help us realize the true value of the sport, aligning with our commitment to growth and profitability while enhancing the excitement of the game for every fan,” he added.
This partnership comes after Zee secured Indian broadcasting and streaming rights for 39 FIFA events from 2026 to 2034, including the FIFA World Cups in 2026 and 2030, as well as the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027. This initiative is anticipated to broaden Zee's presence in football, a sector traditionally dominated by cricket in India.
Romy Gai, FIFA's Chief Business Officer, described the partnership with Zee Entertainment as a crucial step in delivering the “greatest show on earth” to Indian viewers.
“The FIFA World Cup is the greatest show on earth, and we are pleased to partner with ‘Z’ for the first time to bring this global event to India. The Indian market is strategically important for FIFA, showcasing immense potential driven by a young and enthusiastic audience,” he stated.
He added, “We believe that ‘Z’s extensive broadcast and digital distribution network, combined with their deep understanding of local audiences and multi-platform capabilities, will be vital in expanding football's reach to fans across India.”
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, as per the press release.
This investment will provide significant advantages to FIFA’s flagship global properties, ensuring that matches reach audiences across the entire nation. Zee 5, the company’s digital entertainment platform, will also keep football fans engaged with live, immersive viewing experiences in their preferred languages.
The integrated TV and digital ecosystem of the company will offer extensive reach, multi-language experiences, and real-time engagement for fans across various platforms, creating an appealing proposition for brands and viewers alike.
This collaboration with FIFA further enables Zee to tap into the vast untapped potential of football in India, promoting sports as a powerful means of youth engagement and fostering national pride by uniting millions of fans across the country.
The company is confident that the proactive measures being taken for the sport will lead to India reclaiming its glory on global platforms like the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.