The living guide to FIFA World Cup 2026 in India — which channel, which app, how much it costs, and what time the matches actually start on your clock. Updated through the tournament.
Zee's brand-new network is the only place on Indian TV showing the World Cup. Four channels went live on June 2 across 500+ cable and DTH platforms, with English and Hindi commentary, and overlapping group-stage matches split across the channels.
| Operator | U8 Sports 1 | 1 HD | U8 Sports 2 | 2 HD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel Digital TV | 300 | 301 | 302 | 303 |
| Tata Play | Not announced yet — we're tracking | |||
| Dish TV / d2h | Not announced yet | |||
| Sun Direct | Not announced yet | |||
Airtel numbers per the operator's placement scrolls (slotted right after Eurosport) — confirm on your box. Cable (Siti, Hinduja, Fastway, regional MSOs) varies by operator.
Every match streams live on the ZEE5 app and website — not JioHotstar, not SonyLIV. Two plans include the tournament (the monthly plan has no FIFA pack):
No free streaming announced (2022 on JioCinema was free; 2026 is paid). If a free window or DD broadcast is ever confirmed, it'll be at the top of this page within the hour.
USA–Canada–Mexico time zones mean roughly 87% of matches kick off after 10 PM IST — the big slots are 12:30 AM, 3:30 AM and 6:30 AM. This is a tournament for night owls and early risers. Opening nights:
🟠 = past-midnight kickoff. Full fixtures in IST, every morning, on @indiawatchesfootball.
Unite8 Sports (1, 1 HD, 2, 2 HD) — Zee's new network, the only TV home of the tournament in India, live across 500+ platforms including Tata Play, Airtel, Dish TV and Sun Direct.
The channels are rolling out across operators now. Whether they're in your existing pack or à-la-carte depends on your operator's packaging, which is still being finalized — check your operator's app for "Unite8 Sports" once your numbers go live.
₹799 for the 3-month FIFA + All Access pack (with ads, 3 screens) or ₹1,699 for the annual pack (ad-free, 4 screens). The regular monthly plan does not include FIFA.
Nothing announced so far — no free streaming and no confirmed DD broadcast. If that changes, this page and our Instagram will say so immediately.
Mexico vs South Africa kicks off at 12:30 AM IST in the early hours of Friday, June 12 — the tournament starts June 11 everywhere except your clock.
Channel numbers, pricing changes, daily fixtures in IST, and which matches are worth losing sleep for: