Zee Entertainment Enterprises in discussions with FIFA for India media rights deal

Zee Entertainment Enterprises has entered discussions with FIFA to acquire the television and streaming rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India, potentially setting up a major shake-up in the country’s sports broadcasting market.

The development comes amid stalled negotiations between FIFA and the Reliance-Disney joint venture over the India rights package, with the tournament now less than a month away from kicking off on June 11, 2026.

FIFA had originally sought close to $100 million for the India rights covering both the 2026 and 2030 editions of the World Cup. However, reports later indicated that the football governing body revised its expectations downward and was willing to negotiate at a valuation of around $60 million.

Even after lowering its asking price, the valuation reportedly remained far above the estimated $20 million bid submitted by the Reliance-Disney combine led by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Japan-based Sony Group Corporation had also evaluated the possibility of entering the bidding race for the India rights but eventually decided not to proceed with a formal offer.

Zee revealed the ongoing discussions during the launch of its new sports broadcasting initiative, “Unite8 Sports”, which the company said is aimed at strengthening its sports portfolio and increasing its footprint among Indian audiences.

The company has been pushing aggressively into the sports segment as competition intensifies in India’s television and digital streaming industry, where marquee sporting events remain key drivers of subscriber growth and advertising revenue.

Although FIFA has already finalised broadcasting agreements across more than 180 global territories, the India market remains unresolved despite the country’s rapidly expanding football viewership and growing digital consumption.

India accounted for nearly 2.9 per cent of the global linear television audience during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, underlining the country’s rising importance for international sports broadcasters and rights holders.

If Zee manages to secure the World Cup rights, the deal would rank among the company’s biggest sports media acquisitions and could significantly strengthen its position in India’s highly competitive broadcasting landscape.