FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanks Zee Entertainment for boosting football's growth in India
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanks Zee Entertainment for boosting football's growth in India")
For representative purpose only Photograph: (Others)
FIFA President praised Zee and highlighted football's growing popularity in India. Here's what he said about India, Sunil Chhetri and the FIFA World Cup.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, FIFA President Gianni Infantino shared a special video message for Zee, praising the network’s efforts to grow football’s popularity in India. He said he was proud of FIFA’s partnership with Zee, under which 39 FIFA tournaments will be broadcast in the country. These include the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, FIFA Youth World Cups, Futsal competitions and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. According to Infantino, this collaboration will help ensure football remains in the spotlight throughout the year rather than only during the World Cup.
Speaking about the sport’s rise in India, Infantino said the country has a deep love for football and enormous potential for future growth. He recalled his visit during the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017, when more than 1.3 million fans attended matches, setting a tournament attendance record.
He also mentioned returning for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022 and visiting India for the IOC session. Infantino added that meeting Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri was a memorable and special experience.
The FIFA President also highlighted India’s connection with the 2026 World Cup despite the national team not qualifying for the tournament. He pointed out that several players of Indian origin represented countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Qatar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He also noted that thousands of Indian supporters were among the more than 6.5 million fans who attended matches across the 16 host cities, with many passionately cheering for teams including Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and England.
Also Read - FIFA WC 2026, Spain vs Argentina Final: When and where to watch live streaming in India?
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In his message, Infantino also acknowledged Zee’s contribution to expanding football’s reach beyond television. He appreciated the broadcaster for organising official public screenings at cinemas, pubs, restaurants, airports and hotels, saying these initiatives have brought fans together and helped take the game to wider audiences across India.
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For representative purpose only Photograph: (Others)
Concluding his message, Infantino thanked Zee once again for its commitment to promoting football in India.
He expressed hope that one day the Indian men’s national team would qualify for and compete in a FIFA World Cup, while also sending his best wishes to football fans across the country for their continued support of the sport.
Cafes, restaurants open till 4 AM in Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that cafes and restaurants across the city will remain open until 4 am this weekend, allowing fans to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Argentina and Spain, which kicks off at 2:30 am IST on Jul 20.
"Every football fan has watched Lionel Messi make history. Now, history has one more story to tell. A legend. A teenage prodigy. One trophy. One night that generations will remember. Delhi is ready for that night," Gupta said in a post on X.