59 per cent of Indians plan to watch FIFA World Cup 2026: Ipsos

MUMBAI: The ball may not be rolling for India, but Indian fans are already in full flight mode. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is still days away from kick-off, yet the tournament is already scoring heavily with Indian audiences. According to the latest Ipsos Predictions Survey 2026, 59 per cent of Indians plan to watch football’s biggest event, underlining the sport’s growing popularity despite India not featuring in the competition.

Set to run from 11 June to 19 July 2026, the tournament marks a historic first for FIFA, with Canada, Mexico and the United States jointly hosting an expanded edition featuring 48 teams and 104 matches.

While football remains firmly behind cricket in India’s sporting hierarchy, the World Cup continues to enjoy a special pull. The quadrennial spectacle, combined with the possibility of seeing icons such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the global stage, is helping drive interest among viewers.

Globally, Argentina leads the enthusiasm charts, with 79 per cent of respondents intending to watch. It is followed by South Korea (75 per cent), Colombia (74 per cent), South Africa (74 per cent), Peru (72 per cent), Romania (72 per cent), Brazil (71 per cent), Mexico (68 per cent), Ireland (68 per cent), Türkiye (68 per cent), Thailand (67 per cent), Indonesia (64 per cent), Italy (62 per cent) and Malaysia (60 per cent).

India’s football loyalties also appear clear. The survey found that 68 per cent of Indian respondents believe defending champions Argentina will retain the trophy, making India the strongest supporter of Argentina outside the South American nation itself. Support for Argentina remains high across Indonesia (59 per cent), Peru (55 per cent), Malaysia (53 per cent), Thailand (52 per cent), Türkiye (52 per cent) and Romania, while enthusiasm is more muted in traditional football powerhouses such as Germany (20 per cent), Brazil (25 per cent), Japan (25 per cent) and the Netherlands (27 per cent).

The challenge for Indian viewers, however, may not be passion but timing. With host cities sitting 9.5 to 12.5 hours behind India, many matches will be played during late-night or early-morning hours.

That is likely to split audiences into two camps: die-hard fans willing to sacrifice sleep for live action and casual viewers who may rely on highlights, social media clips and match recaps. To improve accessibility, organisers have scheduled 35 of the tournament’s 104 matches on weekends, creating more opportunities for live viewing.

Beyond the football, FIFA is also introducing three new mascots representing the host nations: Maple the Moose from Canada, Zayu the Jaguar from Mexico and Clutch the Bald Eagle from the United States, each designed to embody qualities such as teamwork, agility and leadership.

The survey also highlights concerns beyond the pitch. Around 67 per cent of Indian respondents believe extreme weather could lead to delays or rescheduled fixtures. With matches spread across North America during peak summer and only a limited number of venues equipped with retractable roofs, weather disruptions remain a realistic possibility.

The Ipsos Predictions Survey 2026 was conducted between 24 October and 7 November 2025, covering 23,642 respondents across multiple markets, including approximately 2,200 respondents in India through a mix of online and face-to-face interviews.

For now, one thing is clear: even without a team in the tournament, India is ready to join the global football carnival. The jerseys may be foreign, but the excitement is very much home-grown.