Kerala Sports Minister O J Janeesh yesterday said football fans, clubs and community organisations would be able to organise non-commercial public screenings of the FIFA World Cup 2026 free of cost following discussions between the State government and the rights holders (Zee Entertainment).

Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala late in the evening, the minister, according to a PTI report, said concerns had been raised that public screenings in Kerala would require licences and payment of a fee after Eagles FC Kerala acquired the State’s public screening rights through an agreement with the holders of the FIFA World Cup’s broadcasting and streaming rights in India.

He said the government intervened immediately and held discussions with Eagles FC Kerala and other stakeholders, following which it was decided that non-commercial public screenings would be allowed free of cost.

The telecast and streaming rights for the India region for the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 were obtained by Zee Entertainment for an undisclosed fee. Zee, which will hold FIFA events’ rights for eight years, has promised to invest a certain percentage of the subscription revenue generated from the matches towards grassroots football in India.

Earlier in the day, replying to a submission by MLA P A Mohammed Riyas in the State Assembly, the Minister said concerns had been raised that local clubs, residents’ associations and community organisations would be required to pay a hefty licence fee to screen World Cup matches publicly, according to another PTI report.

The Minister informed the Assembly that the broadcast and live-streaming rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India were owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd, while digital streaming rights were with its sister platform ZEE5.
He added that screening rights in Kerala had been acquired by Eagles FC Kerala.
“The agreement between the rights holders does not involve the State government. However, the government wants to ensure that football fans are not prevented from organising public screenings,” he had said.The Minister had said the State government viewed commercial screenings conducted by shopping malls and business establishments differently from screenings organised by local clubs and community groups that do not charge an entry fee.
As soon as the matter came to the government’s attention, the Sports Department Secretary was directed to hold discussions with the stakeholders concerned, he said. (The image is AI generated and is for representational purposes only.)