How a Last-Minute Deal Saved the FIFA World Cup for Indian Fans

Days prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the football body finally got Zee Entertainment for broadcasting the tournament in India. The deal, which brings to an end months of uncertainty, guarantees that the tournament can be watched by millions of Indian football fans when it starts on June 11. The deal includes access to dozens of FIFA games up to 2034 and belongs to one of the largest sports media deals of this year, too.

This story is interesting because it almost didn't happen. With India being one of the largest markets for TV media, it was one of the final big markets to complete its World Cup coverage. As the tournament gets closer, fans were speculating about where they'd tune in. The deal highlights the importance of sports broadcasting, and the competition for major sporting events between companies.

Any fan that follows football would know the news at hand is straightforward: the World Cup is back and they'll be watching. However, it's also a story of business, media and increasing popularity of football in India behind the scenes. From the first game, the amount of Indian viewers watching Sports will be able to enjoy the most mammoth sporting event in the world with this agreement.