New Delhi, June 11: Football enthusiasts in India are gearing up for the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026, despite the absence of the Indian national team from the tournament. The expanded edition of football's premier global event is expected to draw massive viewership as fans prepare to watch the world's biggest stars compete on the grandest stage.

The tournament kicks off onJune 12 (IST)and will be jointly hosted byFIFA, theMexico,Canada, and theUnited States. For the first time in FIFA World Cup history,48 teamswill compete, with the event featuring a record104 matches.

Broadcast and Telecast Details in India

Indian viewers can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on television through the newly launched Unite8 Sports network. Matches will be aired across four channels:

• Unite8 Sports 1 (Hindi)
• Unite8 Sports 1 HD (Hindi)
• Unite8 Sports 2 (English)
• Unite8 Sports 2 HD (English)

Meanwhile,DD Sportswill provide free access to selected matches. The broadcaster has confirmed telecast of the opening fixture and will also air the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final through DD Free Dish.

Match Timings

The tournament opener betweenMexicoandSouth Africawill begin at12:30 AM IST on June 12. Other group-stage matches are scheduled at1:30 AM, 2:30 AM, and 6:30 AM IST.

The knockout schedule includes:

• Quarter-finals: July 10–12
• Semi-finals: July 15–16
• Final: July 20

All these marquee matches are slated to start at12:30 AM IST.

Live Streaming in India

Fans preferring digital platforms can stream every FIFA World Cup 2026 match live on theZEE5app across smartphones, laptops, smart TVs, and other connected devices.

New Tournament Format

The 2026 edition introduces a revamped structure with12 groups of four teams each, replacing the previous eight-group format. The top two teams from each group, along with theeight best third-placed teams, will advance to a newly introduced Round of 32 before progressing to the traditional knockout rounds.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups

Group A:Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Czechia

Group B:Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Group C:Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D:United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey

Group E:Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao

Group F:Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G:Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H:Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde

Group I:France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq

Group J:Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan

Group K:Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan

Group L:England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

With the broadcasting uncertainty now resolved, football followers across India can look forward to uninterrupted coverage of the biggest FIFA World Cup ever staged.