Indian Fans Report Widespread Streaming Issues on Zee5 During 2026 World Cup Opener
Published June 12, 2026
Indian football enthusiasts faced significant technical difficulties while attempting to stream the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Zee5, the platform holding exclusive broadcast rights, leading to widespread frustration. This came after earlier complaints regarding changes to multi-device access for subscribers.
Published — local time around the world
The highly anticipated opening of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring the host nation Mexico taking on South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca, was met with a less-than-stellar viewing experience for millions of Indian fans. While the world celebrated the tournament's kickoff, subscribers to Zee5, the exclusive broadcaster in India, reported a litany of technical problems that marred their ability to watch the global spectacle unfold.
Complaints flooded social media and other platforms, detailing issues such as persistent buffering, freezing streams, application crashes, and login failures. Many viewers also noted the absence of promised features, turning what should have been a landmark night for football viewership in India into an evening of digital discontent and frustration for those who had paid for access.
Adding to the opening night woes, the platform had already drawn criticism in the days leading up to the tournament. Early purchasers of Zee5's Rs 799 FIFA World Cup package discovered that the promised multi-device access had been quietly reduced from three screens to a single device. Following a swift and vocal backlash from the online community, the platform eventually reinstated the original three-device allowance, though the initial misstep had already impacted user goodwill.