How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in India: JioHotstar, DD Sports, WAVES and IST kick-off times

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across Canada, Mexico and the United States — and for the first time, 48 nations will compete in 104 matches. If you are watching from India, here is what we currently know about where the tournament will air, what each option costs and the IST kick-off times for the biggest fixtures.

Heads-up — rights status as of May 2026: Indian broadcast rights for FIFA World Cup 2026 are still being finalised. Per reporting on 23 May 2026, negotiations are complete and an official announcement is expected imminently. We will update this page as soon as the rights holder is confirmed.

Where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in India

Three broadcasters are likely to carry the tournament in India, based on FIFA's subcontinent media tender and India's mandatory-sharing law:

JioHotstar — paid OTT (front-runner to land the paid digital + TV rights).
DD Sports / Doordarshan — free-to-air via Prasar Bharati under the Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing) Act 2007, which lists the FIFA World Cup as an event of national importance.
WAVES — Prasar Bharati's public OTT app.

Why DD Sports matters

Because the FIFA World Cup is notified as a "sporting event of national importance", whoever wins the paid rights is legally required to share the live signal with Prasar Bharati. That means DD Sports is expected to carry the tournament free-to-air, and the Delhi High Court has also issued notice to the Centre and Prasar Bharati on a petition seeking expanded free access.

JioHotstar plans and pricing

If JioHotstar lands the paid streaming rights as expected, here are the current subscription tiers (pricing as of 28 January 2026):

Mobile: ₹79 / month — single mobile device, HD.
Super: ₹149 / month or ₹1,099 / year — two devices, full HD, TV + mobile.
Premium: ₹299 / month — four devices, 4K where available.

For most football viewers, Super is the sweet spot — TV-quality streaming with annual pricing under ₹1,100. If JioHotstar's plans, tiers or pricing change once the FIFA deal is announced, we will refresh this section.

DD Sports — the free-to-air option

DD Sports is Prasar Bharati's free sports channel and is available on:

Free-to-air DTH (DD Free Dish).
Most paid cable and DTH packages.
The WAVES app (Android, iOS, web) for live streaming.

Coverage on DD Sports is typically in Hindi commentary, with selected matches and highlights. The full match library — including all 104 fixtures — will almost certainly sit behind JioHotstar.

WAVES — public broadcaster OTT

The WAVES app is Prasar Bharati's official streaming platform. Registration is free, the catalogue includes DD Sports live, and the service runs on Android, iOS, smart TVs and the web. For Hindi-language free coverage of whatever DD Sports broadcasts, WAVES is the simplest mobile option.

IST kick-off times for the biggest fixtures

India Standard Time is 9.5 to 12.5 hours ahead of host-city kick-offs, so almost every match is in the early hours IST. Key times:

Opener — Mexico vs South Africa: 12:30 a.m. IST, Friday 12 June (kick-off 8 p.m. CDT, Mexico City, 11 June).
USA opener: early hours IST, 13 June.
Group stage: most matches between roughly 10:30 p.m. IST and 6:30 a.m. IST.
Round of 32 onwards: 27 June through 14 July, late-night IST.
Semi-finals: 14–15 July, early-morning IST.
Final: 12:30 a.m. IST, Monday 20 July (3 p.m. EDT, 19 July, MetLife Stadium).

The full fixture list and times are published on the FIFA match schedule.

Why use a VPN when streaming the World Cup

What a VPN does: a Virtual Private Network encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address from your ISP and the networks you connect through. It is a privacy and security tool.

If you are streaming late-night matches on shared Wi-Fi, public hotspots, hotel networks or unfamiliar connections, a VPN helps you in three concrete ways:

Encrypts your traffic so the network operator cannot see what you are streaming.
Hides your IP from third parties, trackers and the broader network.
Reduces ISP-level throttling on streaming traffic, which some Indian ISPs apply during peak hours.

Important: A VPN is not a way around a broadcaster's licensing, terms of service or geographic restrictions. Use it for privacy and security on the connections you already have access to.

Download VPN Super

FAQs

Will the FIFA World Cup 2026 be free in India?

Selected matches and highlights are expected on DD Sports and the WAVES app, because the FIFA World Cup is notified under the mandatory-sharing law. Full live coverage of all 104 matches will likely sit behind JioHotstar's paid plans once the rights deal is officially announced.

What are the cheapest JioHotstar plans for the World Cup?

The cheapest plan is JioHotstar Mobile at ₹79 / month (single mobile device). For TV-quality streaming, JioHotstar Super at ₹149 / month (or ₹1,099 / year) is the best value.

Can I use a VPN to watch the World Cup in another country?

No. Broadcaster terms of service tie streaming rights to where you are entitled to watch. A VPN should not be used to access a service you are not licensed to use. Stick with the broadcaster that has rights in the country you are physically in.

Why use a VPN, then?

To protect your privacy and security on the connections you already have access to — encrypting traffic on public, hotel or shared Wi-Fi, hiding your IP from third parties, and reducing ISP-level tracking and throttling of streaming traffic.

Has India qualified for the 2026 World Cup?

No. India did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coverage in India is for the global tournament.

Will I need a separate subscription for WAVES?

No — WAVES is free. Registration on the WAVES app takes a minute and gives you access to DD Sports live and Prasar Bharati's catalogue at no cost.