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The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off tonight and football fans across India are gearing up for a month of late-night matches, dramatic goals and plenty of heartbreak. With ZEE5 holding the digital streaming rights for the tournament in India, many users are now searching for the most affordable way to access the platform through their existing mobile plans. Both Airtel and Jio currently offer select recharge plans that include ZEE5 subscriptions. However, there is an important catch that football fans should know before recharging.Airtel Plans With ZEE5 SubscriptionAmong telecom operators, Airtel currently offers some of the most comprehensive entertainment bundles. The Rs 598 prepaid plan includes Netflix Basic, ZEE5, JioHotstar and Airtel Xstream
Play Premium alongside 2GB daily data, unlimited calls and 100 SMS per day for 28 days.For users looking for a longer validity option, Airtel's Rs 1,729 plan bundles the same OTT services while offering 2.5GB daily data and an 84-day validity period.Airtel broadband users also get complimentary ZEE5 access with Xstream Fiber plans starting from Rs 699 per month.Jio Plans With ZEE5 AccessReliance Jio also offers ZEE5 access through selected prepaid plans and OTT add-ons. However, unlike Airtel, most Jio mobile plans provide access via the JioTV application rather than offering a direct standalone ZEE5 Premium login.FIFA WC 2026: Full Schedule, Venues, Timing Of All Matches In IST And Where To Watch On TV And Online In IndiaJio users can access ZEE5 content through eligible Unlimited 5G plans and certain OTT add-ons. For users seeking direct ZEE5 access across multiple devices, JioAirFiber and JioHome plans starting from Rs 999 are currently the better option.The FIFA World Cup CatchDespite including ZEE5 subscriptions, neither Airtel nor Jio currently offers a plan that includes access to FIFA World Cup 2026 streaming. According to information shared by ZEE5, the tournament sits behind a separate premium paywall. Standard ZEE5 subscriptions bundled with telecom plans do not automatically unlock World Cup matches.To stream the tournament online, users will need to purchase or upgrade to a dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 package directly through the ZEE5 app or website. Existing ZEE5 subscribers may be able to pay an additional top-up fee to gain access.
