🇮🇳 India streaming guide · Official broadcaster: Zee Entertainment

Watch World Cup 2026
in India

Zee Entertainment has secured the official FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights for India. Watch on TV via the new Unite8 Sports channels, or stream live on ZEE5. We've also included a free alternative for every match.

✅ Quick answer

Official (TV): Tune into Unite8 Sports 1 or Unite8 Sports 2 on your cable or DTH provider — English and Hindi commentary available.

Official (streaming): Subscribe to ZEE5 — ₹799 for 3 months or ₹1,699 for 1 year. All 104 matches live.

Free alternative: NordVPN + Australian server + SBS On Demand — all 104 matches, English commentary, no subscription.

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30-day money-back guarantee · All 104 matches free

All options in India

Where to watch

Platform	Type	Matches	Cost
Unite8 Sports 1 / 1 HD	TV — English commentary	All 104 matches	Cable/DTH subscription
Unite8 Sports 2 / 2 HD	TV — Hindi commentary	All 104 matches	Cable/DTH subscription
ZEE5	OTT streaming app	All 104 matches live	₹799 / 3 months
SBS On Demand (via VPN)	Free overseas broadcaster	All 104 matches	Free + VPN cost
BBC iPlayer (via VPN)	Free overseas broadcaster	Most knockouts	Free + VPN cost

ZEE5 subscription plans

ZEE5 pricing

3-Month Plan

₹799

Z5 All Access + Sports Pack

Up to 3 devices · Includes ads · Covers full tournament + more ZEE5 content

Annual Plan

₹1,699

ZEE5 Premium Annual

Up to 4 devices · Ad-free experience · Best value if you watch other ZEE5 content

Which plan to get: The ₹799 3-month plan covers the entire tournament (June 11 – July 19) and has 1 month to spare. It's the better value unless you already use ZEE5 regularly for other content.

Method 1 — Official

ZEE5 — Live streaming all 104 matches

ZEE5 is Zee Entertainment's OTT platform and the official digital home of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in India. Available on mobile, laptop, and Smart TV.

1Download the ZEE5 app from the App Store or Google Play, or visit zee5.com.
2Create an account with your email or phone number.
3Subscribe to the Z5 All Access + Sports Pack — ₹799 for 3 months. Pay via UPI, card, or net banking.
4Search "FIFA World Cup 2026" — all matches appear with English and Hindi commentary options.
5Available on Android, iOS, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, Fire TV Stick, and web browser.

Method 2 — TV broadcast

Unite8 Sports — TV channels

Zee Entertainment has launched four dedicated sports TV channels exclusively for World Cup coverage and future FIFA events. Available through your existing cable or DTH provider.

1Contact your cable operator or DTH provider (Tata Play, Dish TV, Airtel Digital TV, Sun Direct) to add Unite8 Sports channels.
2Unite8 Sports 1 / 1 HD — English commentary matches.
3Unite8 Sports 2 / 2 HD — Hindi commentary matches.
4HD channels recommended for the best picture quality on big screens.

Method 3 — Free alternative

NordVPN + SBS On Demand (all 104 matches free)

If you don't want to pay for ZEE5, Australia's SBS On Demand broadcasts all 104 World Cup matches completely free. Connect to an Australian server via NordVPN and watch from India at no cost beyond the VPN subscription.

1Sign up for NordVPN using our link — 30-day money-back guarantee, so zero financial risk.
2Download NordVPN on your phone or laptop (Android, iOS, Windows, Mac).
3Open NordVPN → tap search → type "Australia" → connect to any Australian server.
4Open browser → go to sbs.com.au/ondemand → search World Cup 2026 → watch free in HD.
5Works on Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL — any Indian broadband or mobile connection.

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Match times India

Kick-off times IST

All times in Indian Standard Time (IST / UTC+5:30). Most matches will be late night or early morning due to the USA time zone difference.

USA kick-off (ET)	India (IST)	Viewing notes
Noon ET	9:30 PM IST	Best slot — prime time India
3pm ET	12:30 AM IST	Late night — set a reminder
6pm ET	3:30 AM IST	Very early — use ZEE5 replay
9pm ET	6:30 AM IST	Morning — manageable for early risers

Opening match: Mexico vs South Africa kicks off June 11 at 5pm ET — that's 2:30 AM IST on June 12. ZEE5 and SBS both offer full match replays available shortly after the final whistle if you can't stay up.

FAQ — India

Common questions

Zee Entertainment holds the official broadcast rights. On TV, matches air on Unite8 Sports 1 (English) and Unite8 Sports 2 (Hindi), plus their HD counterparts. For streaming, ZEE5 is the official platform. These are Zee Entertainment's dedicated sports channels launched specifically for this tournament.

The official ZEE5 stream requires a paid subscription starting at ₹799 for 3 months. TV access via Unite8 Sports depends on your cable or DTH package. There is no official free streaming option in India. However, using NordVPN to connect to Australia's SBS On Demand gives you all 104 matches completely free as an alternative.

ZEE5 is available in select countries but the World Cup content may be geo-restricted to India only. If you're travelling abroad and have a ZEE5 subscription, you may need NordVPN to connect to an Indian server to access your subscription. Alternatively, use NordVPN with an Australian server to access SBS for free.

Yes. VPN use for personal streaming purposes is legal in India. You are accessing free public broadcaster SBS Australia — not bypassing a paid subscription or pirating content. NordVPN and Surfshark both operate under strict no-logs policies.

Yes. Zee Entertainment has confirmed both English and Hindi commentary for the tournament. On TV, Unite8 Sports 1 carries English commentary and Unite8 Sports 2 carries Hindi. On ZEE5 you will be able to switch between commentary languages.

Watch World Cup 2026in India