Sports
Zee 5 hosts football carnival in Kolkata ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026
More than 1,100 fans, celebrities and performers celebrate the beautiful game at city rally
KOLKATA: Football fever took over the streets of Kolkata as Zee 5 organised a grand football carnival ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing together more than 1,100 football fans, performers, celebrities and sports personalities for a city-wide celebration.
Held at Vivekananda Park on Southern Avenue, the carnival-style rally was flagged off by West Bengal minister of youth services and sports, Indranil Khan, alongside other dignitaries.
The procession travelled through key stretches of South Kolkata, featuring themed installations, live music, team-affiliated fan zones and cultural performances by dhakis, chau dancers, cheerleaders and performers. The event celebrated the city’s deep-rooted football culture while blending sport with Bengal’s traditional art forms.
Football fan clubs from across the city joined the rally, creating a festive atmosphere that reflected Kolkata’s enduring passion for the sport. The organisers said the initiative aimed to transform the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup into a shared community celebration.
The carnival also saw participation from actors Vikram Chatterjee, Priyanka Sarkar, Ayush Das and Sushmita Roy from Taarkata, along with Bonny Sengupta and Angana Roy from Prem Shots, who interacted with football enthusiasts during the event.
Former and current footballers including Aloke Mukherjee, Biswajit Bhattacharya, Sangram Mukherjee, Snehasish Chockroborty, Nilava Chockroborty, Rahim Nabi and Mehtab Hosain also attended the celebrations.
Commenting on the initiative, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited’s chief marketing officer, Kartik Mahadev, said, “At Zee 5, we wanted to celebrate the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026 in a way that felt authentic to Kolkata, a city where football is deeply woven into the cultural fabric.”
He added that the carnival was designed to bring together fans, local traditions and entertainment in a shared experience that extends beyond the screen, while helping audiences connect with the excitement of the tournament in a culturally relevant way.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 drawing closer, Zee 5 said it will continue to engage fans through on-ground experiences that combine football, entertainment and local culture, reinforcing the platform’s focus on community-driven celebrations beyond digital streaming.
