The FIFA World Cup 2026 began in North America on June 11–12, marking the tournament’s first joint staging by the United States, Canada and Mexico and the debut of an expanded 48-team format that will deliver a record 104 matches. India’s broadcast landscape was settled ahead of kick-off: Zee Entertainment has secured India’s broadcast rights and digital partner Zee5 will stream matches, while public broadcaster DD Sports aired the opening match live and will show the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final on DD Free Dish.
Hosts Mexico and South Africa opened the tournament at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a stadium long associated with football greats. The day’s schedule also included Korea Republic versus Czechia in Guadalajara, officially launching what organisers describe as the largest World Cup in history.
The expansion from 32 to 48 teams has brought several first-time participants and long-awaited returns. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan are appearing at the World Cup for the first time, while Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo return after 52 years. Iraq has qualified for the first time since 1986, and Austria, Scotland and Norway are back after absences since 1998. Turkey also returns after its 2002 third-place finish.
The new format has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters praise greater global representation and fresh opportunities for emerging football nations; critics warn the larger field could dilute the early-stage intensity of some fixtures. FIFA maintains the change is intended to broaden the sport’s reach and accelerate growth in new markets.
Off the field, the tournament has been shadowed by debate over ticket pricing and logistics. FIFA faced criticism for premium pricing during much of the sales period, though cheaper categories and promotional giveaways were later released. Political developments in the United States and close ties between FIFA leadership and U.S. authorities featured in pre-tournament discussion, and travel- and visa-related problems created last-minute challenges for some visitors.
In India, Zee’s acquisition of World Cup rights bolsters its football portfolio — including rights to additional FIFA competitions through 2034 — and prompted the launch of four dedicated sports channels (Unite8 Sports 1 and 2, plus HD variants) to support broadcast coverage. Zee5 is offering short-term and annual subscription options for digital viewers, while DD Sports’ live telecast of the Mexico–South Africa opener shortly after midnight on June 12 (IST) and Free Dish carriage of the tournament’s later stages ensure broad free-to-air access for millions of viewers.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/06/12/mexico-takes-centre-stage-as-expanded-world-cup-begins/
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Publish Date: 2026-06-12 03:49:00
