Zee Entertainment Shares Rise 6% After Securing Broadcast Rights for 2026 FIFA World Cup in India

Zee Entertainment Secures FIFA World Cup 2026 Broadcasting Rights in India

Zee Entertainment Enterprises has announced that it has officially secured the rights to broadcast and stream the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India, marking a major addition to its sports portfolio. The tournament, featuring an expanded 48-team format, is scheduled to kick off on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Matches will be televised on ZEEL's newly launched Unite8 Sports channels, while live streaming will be available on Zee5. The agreement also gives the broadcaster rights to several future FIFA tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup 2030 and multiple men's, women's, and youth competitions.

Shares of Zee Entertainment Enterprises initially surged as much as 6.4% following the announcement. The stock later pared some gains but remained firmly in the green, trading 5.8% higher at Rs 98.51 at 2:38 pm on Monday.

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The partnership between Zee Entertainment and FIFA is expected to unlock the true value of football in India, with the broadcaster looking to amplify the excitement of the game for every fan. Zee Entertainment CEO Punit Goenka has stated that the company is excited to bring one of the world's biggest sporting spectacles to Indian audiences, with football cutting across regions and demographics.

According to FIFA, the Indian market is of strategic importance, driven by a young and passionate audience. The governing body believes that Zee Entertainment's extensive broadcast and digital distribution ecosystem, 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.

FIFA has already secured broadcasting partnerships across more than 180 territories worldwide, underscoring the tournament's massive global appeal. India remains one of the governing body's most important markets in terms of audience reach. FIFA data showed that the country accounted for 2.9% of the global linear television audience for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, ranking behind only China in overall engagement.

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The tournament attracted an estimated 745 million viewers in India across television and digital platforms. Television viewership alone reached nearly 84 million, making India one of the top 10 markets globally for the event and placing it ahead of several participating football nations, including Germany, France, and England.