India, June 15 -- For millions of football fans in India, the return of the FIFA World Cup after four years should have been a moment of pure excitement. Instead, in the weeks leading up to kick-off, uncertainty over broadcast rights raised an unusual question: would Indian viewers even be able to watch football's biggest event live?

The FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has returned on a larger scale than ever before, expanding to 48 teams and more than 100 matches. Yet while global broadcasters prepared for one of sport's biggest spectacles, India remained one of the last major markets without a confirmed media partner. That uncertainty has now ended, after a last-minute agreement brought the tour...