World Cup 2026 is Live Now
Your comprehensive guide to watching all 104 matches live across India. Following a landmark deal, Zee Entertainment brings the tournament to Indian fans on TV and digital devices.
TV Channels
Following a major rights acquisition by Zee Entertainment, the broadcast home for the World Cup in India has shifted.
Exclusive Rights Holder
Zee Entertainment holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. They will show the matches across their linear television channel, UNITE8 Sports. This marks a significant change from the 2022 tournament, meaning previous broadcasters like Sports18 and JioCinema will not carry the games.
Free vs Paid in India
Unlike the free digital streaming seen in previous tournaments, fans will likely need a subscription or pay-TV package to watch the 2026 World Cup.
To watch the tournament live, you will need a cable or DTH subscription that includes the UNITE8 Sports channel, or a digital subscription to Zee5 Premium.
What you need: An active Zee5 plan to stream matches on mobile, tablet, or smart TV, or the appropriate TV channel package.
India Streaming Apps
Watch every match on your phone, tablet, or smart TV using the official network app.
VPN & Geo-blocking
If you are traveling abroad during the tournament, the Zee5 app will likely restrict live World Cup broadcasts to Indian IP addresses only.
Many fans use a VPN to connect to an Indian server to access their home Zee5 account while traveling. Ensure you comply with the terms of service of the streaming provider and local regulations in the country you are visiting.
Match schedule
With the tournament in North America, matches will kick off late at night and early in the morning in Indian Standard Time (IST).
India Fan Shortcuts
India Broadcast FAQ
Zee Entertainment secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. Matches will be broadcast on linear television through UNITE8 Sports and streamed digitally on the Zee5 platform.
No. While Viacom18 (Sports18 and JioCinema) broadcast the 2022 World Cup, Zee Entertainment successfully acquired the rights for the 2026 tournament. You must use UNITE8 Sports or Zee5 to watch the matches.
All 104 matches of the expanded 48-team tournament can be streamed live and on-demand using the Zee5 app and website. Multi-language coverage is expected to be available for Indian viewers.
Premium sports content on Zee5 generally requires a subscription, so fans should expect to need an active Zee5 Premium plan to watch the live matches, unless Zee announces a free tier closer to the tournament.
If you are physically in India, you do not need a VPN. UNITE8 Sports and Zee5 will have full domestic access. However, if you are an Indian resident traveling abroad, Zee5 will likely be geo-blocked, and a VPN may be required to access your home subscription.
