India, June 12 -- The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has taken place, ushering in global excitement just hours after kickoff.

Although the Indian national team has not qualified for the tournament, World Cup fever has swept across the country, where football continues to steadily grow alongside its deep-rooted cricket culture.

For a considerable time, the tournament's broadcast availability in India remained uncertain. However, the situation was clarified just days before the start of the event when Zee Entertainment was confirmed as the official broadcaster in the country.

Under this agreement, Zee has secured rights to broadcast 39 FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 and FIFA World Cup 2030.

The company will air...