Verified · 2 sources · 2026-06-15 04:10 UTC
Watching from India?
World Cup 2026 in India is on Unite8 Sports 1 / 2 (HD) on TV, ZEE5 stream (paid subscription). ZEE5 is a paid subscription; there is no DD Sports or free-to-air telecast of World Cup 2026 in India.
Unite8 Sports is a new Zee channel (launched June 2026); check your DTH or cable provider's sports tier for its channel placement in your area. See the full India rights story (Zee, ZEE5, Unite8 Sports) and the India Time (IST) schedule for all 104 matches.
Broadcasters by country
| Country / region | Broadcaster | Access |
|---|---|---|
| India | Unite8 Sports 1 / 2 (HD); live stream on ZEE5 | Paid |
| United States | Fox / FS1 (English), Telemundo (Spanish) | Mixed |
| United Kingdom | BBC, ITV, STV | Free-to-air |
| Canada | Bell Media (TSN / CTV) | Paid |
| Australia | SBS (free-to-air) | Free-to-air |
| Middle East & North Africa | beIN Sports | Paid |
Source: Confirmed June 2026: India via Zee Entertainment (ZEE5 / Unite8 Sports, deal signed 2 June 2026); other territories per FIFA and national broadcasters.
Is World Cup 2026 free to watch in India?
No. In India the World Cup 2026 is on paid platforms only: Unite8 Sports (TV) and ZEE5 (stream). There is no free DD Sports or free-to-air telecast. ZEE5 carries the live stream on its app and web (paid subscription) and Unite8 Sports 1 / 2 (HD) carries the TV coverage.
Streaming notes
YouTube secured a preferred-platform deal letting rights-holders stream selected matches in full on their channels, alongside the opening ten minutes of every match. TikTok was named a preferred platform for short-form video.
Coverage outside the markets listed is held by national rights-holders; check your local broadcaster. MercatoWire updates this list as further territories confirm.