Mumbai: Football fans watching the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Zee 5 can now look forward to insights from one of India’s most famous footballers. The streaming platform has announced the addition of Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri as part of its expert panel for the tournament, strengthening its coverage as the competition enters a crucial phase.
Chhetri will appear as a pre-show expert, bringing a player’s perspective to discussions about key matches, tactical battles, standout performers and the defining moments that shaped the World Cup. His addition further enhances Zee 5’s efforts to provide Indian audiences with a comprehensive football viewing experience through live streaming, analysis, highlights and special programming.
Widely regarded as the face of Indian football, Chhetri is the country’s all-time leading goalscorer and most capped male international footballer. With 95 international goals, he is one of the highest goalscorers in the history of men’s international football. In a career spanning more than two decades, he has played a central role in raising the profile of Indian football and inspiring a new generation of players and fans.
Speaking about the association, Sunil Chhetri said, “The FIFA World Cup is where football’s greatest stories unfold, and I am excited to join ZEE5’s expert panel for this incredible tournament. Every World Cup creates moments that stay with fans forever, from great players to rising stars and countries attempting to make history on the biggest stage.
He said he looks forward to sharing information on the tournament’s strategic contests, outstanding players and memorable moments with audiences across the country.
Chhetri joins the panel that already includes football personalities like Bhaichung Bhutia, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Igor Stimac. The combination of current and former football personalities aims to provide viewers with both a local and global perspective on the tournament.
With the group stage concluding and the knockout rounds approaching, interest in the tournament is expected to increase. ZEE5 is introducing its expert-led coverage as a way to bring viewers closer to the action, whether they are lifelong football followers or experiencing the World Cup for the first time.
As the race for football’s biggest prize heats up, Chhetri’s addition gives ZEE5 a familiar and authoritative voice capable of helping fans understand the drama unfolding on the world’s grandest football stage.