ZEEL bags FIFA media rights

Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. (ZEEL) has secured media rights for a slate of FIFA matches in India over the next eight years.

Under the agreement, Zee will bring 39 FIFA events to Indian audiences between 2026 and 2034, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 and FIFA World Cup 2030, along with other global tournaments and football-related content.

As part of the deal, football fans in India will be able to access live coverage of FIFA tournaments across Zee's sports network and streaming platform Zee5. The broadcaster said the "Festival of Football" will begin on June 11, 2026, with exclusive coverage across its sports channels and digital platforms.

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.

”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.”

Speaking about the potential that can be unlocked, 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.”