The biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup 2026, has officially begun, and ZEE5 appears to have enjoyed a strong start among Indian viewers.
The opening match of the tournament was played between Mexico and South Africa. Mexico finally ended their World Cup opening-match curse with a convincing 2-0 victory and picked up the first three points of the tournament.
[sportzclaus_wc_poll question=”Did you like ZEE5 World Cup 2026 Broadcasting?” options=”YES, NO” poll_id=”wc_winner_2026″]
The second match of the day started at 7:30 AM IST and saw South Korea defeat Czechia by 2-1. South Korea came from behind to secure an important win and join Mexico at the top of Group A.
ZEE5 Day 1 Viewership Stats
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa reportedly attracted around 20 lakh viewers in India. Meanwhile, the South Korea vs Czechia clash was watched by approximately 23 lakh viewers.
Reports also suggest that ZEE5 may have generated in crores in revenue on the very first day of the tournament. While there is no official confirmation regarding these figures, the numbers seem achievable considering the popularity of the FIFA World Cup and the platform’s subscription plans.
According to reports, 25-30 lakh football fans purchase the ₹799 FIFA World Cup package, the subscription revenue alone can reach impressive levels. Revenue generated through advertisements would be an additional source of earnings.
ZEE5 FIFA World Cup 2026 Plans
- FIFA World Cup 2026 + All Access Quarterly Plan – ₹799
- FIFA World Cup 2026 + All Access Yearly Plan – ₹1,699
- Both plans allow fans to watch every FIFA World Cup 2026 match live on the platform.
ZEE5 Streaming Quality
ZEE5’s streaming quality has also come under criticism from some viewers during the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to several fan reports on social media, ZEE5 is broadcasting FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in 720p quality, which is considered relatively low compared to other major broadcasting platforms around the world.
Many football fans have expressed disappointment with the streaming quality, especially considering the premium subscription prices being charged for tournament access. However, ZEE5 has not officially commented on these claims, and the platform continues to attract strong viewership numbers despite the criticism.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A Standings After Day 1
| Team | Points |
|---|---|
| Mexico | 3 |
| South Korea | 3 |
| Czechia | 0 |
| South Africa | 0 |
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has started in exciting fashion, with Mexico and South Korea making winning starts. With several blockbuster matches still to come, the tournament promises plenty of drama and entertainment for football fans around the world.
