FIFA World Cup 2026: Z awards public viewing rights to partners

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (‘Z’) has established screening partnerships to facilitate official public viewing opportunities for the tournament across India.

As part of the initiative, ‘Z’ has awarded public viewing rights to partners including Novex Communications, Eagles FC Kerala, Zion Bridge, and What’s up Goa. These partners will work closely with venues and establishments to enable the legal and authorized screening of FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches, enabling the fans to experience the excitement of the tournament in a vibrant community setting.

Further strengthening the viewing ecosystem, ‘Z’ has also partnered with PVR INOX and Cinepolis to bring select FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches to cinema screens across India. Through these partnerships, football enthusiasts will have the opportunity to watch some of the biggest matches of the tournament on the big screen, creating an immersive and elevated viewing experience. The Company is taking these steps with the support and co-operation of the relevant local authorities.

The public viewing rights will enable a wide range of venues including cinemas, pubs, restaurants, clubs, gymkhanas, airports, educational institutions and hotels to host official screenings of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.

The initiative forms part of ‘Z’s broader strategy to build a comprehensive football ecosystem in India by extending the reach of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. By enabling large-scale public screenings, the Company aims to foster greater community engagement, enhance fan experiences and further accelerate the growth of football fandom across the country.

Speaking about the initiative, Gareth Eswin Thomas, Business Head – Zee Live, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd., said, “FIFA World Cup 2026 is one of the most celebrated sporting spectacles globally, and our endeavour is to make the tournament accessible to as many fans as possible across India. Through our screening partnerships, we are creating opportunities for communities to come together and experience the passion, excitement and energy of football in a seamless manner. In today’s attention economy, shared experiences have become increasingly valuable, and live sports remain one of the few formats capable of bringing large audiences together in real time. From cinemas and hospitality venues to clubs, educational institutions and public spaces, we are building an ecosystem that extends the FIFA World Cup 2026 experience beyond the home and brings fans closer to the action. As football continues to witness growing popularity in India, these partnerships will play a key role in creating memorable shared experiences for fans across the country.”
With a strong network of partners and venues, the Company is taking the required steps to further expand the footprint of football in India while ensuring fans have multiple avenues to enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2026™ through authorized and high-quality viewing experiences.