The Department of Tourism would organise live screenings of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final and final matches at Kisama on July 15, 16 and 20.
Announcing the initiative during a press briefing on Tuesday, Commissioner & Secretary for Tourism, Kovi Meyase, said the programme was conceptualised in line with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s vision of keeping Kisama active throughout the year rather than limiting its identity to the annual 10-day Hornbill Festival.
Meyase said the department aims to maximise the use of the existing infrastructure at Kisama by introducing activities beyond the Hornbill Festival. Describing the live screening as the first step towards that goal, he said the FIFA World Cup offered a timely opportunity to promote the heritage village while providing football fans with a unique viewing experience.
He said the department approached the company holding the exclusive public screening rights for the tournament in India and successfully secured the required licence. Preparations, he added, were nearing completion, and the department was optimistic about a good turnout.
Meyase also said the department’s social media campaign had received an encouraging response, with a notable increase in followers on its Instagram page.
Clarifying that revenue generation was not the primary objective, Meyase said the department nevertheless hoped to generate some income for the state government at a time of financial constraints. He emphasised that the intention was to ensure the event remained financially viable while making a modest contribution to state revenue.
He said the broader objectives of the initiative were to increase Kisama’s visibility throughout the year, activate the heritage village through regular events, and encourage Nagaland’s youth to experience the venue beyond the Hornbill Festival.
Responding to concerns over the late-night kick-off at 12.30 a.m., Meyase acknowledged that the timing was challenging but noted that football enthusiasts regularly stayed up to watch major international matches from home. He said the department wanted to recreate a stadium-like atmosphere, expressing confidence that football lovers across the state would respond positively.
He added that ticket sales were expected to pick up in the coming days, given Nagaland’s strong football culture.
Providing details of the entertainment programme, Joint Director of Tourism, Toka E Tuccumi, said local artistes would perform before each match to build excitement ahead of kick-off.
He informed that Moko Koza would headline the final, while Sentiein Kichu would perform during both semi-finals. Anonymous Jamir, Tolu Yeptho and Arenchenla Jamir would also perform during the semi-final matches.
Tuccumi said the department had planned several interactive activities, including penalty shootout competitions and raffle draws during match intervals to keep spectators engaged.
He said three winners would be selected after every match to receive gift hampers showcasing Nagaland Tourism attractions. In total, 24 gift hampers worth more than Rs 10,000 each would be distributed from the quarter-finals through the final.
He further informed that football fans could participate in online match prediction contests by following the Department of Tourism’s official Instagram page.
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According to Tuccumi, prediction contests had already begun from the Round of 16. Winners from the Round of 16 would receive two passes to the first semi-final. Quarter-final prediction winners would receive two passes to the second semi-final along with a premium gift hamper worth Rs 10,000 or more. Semi-final prediction winners would receive two passes to the final and a premium gift hamper worth over Rs 10,000, while winners of the final prediction contest would receive premium gift hampers worth more than Rs 10,000. Three winners would be selected after every match.
Sharing the response to the department’s digital campaign, Tuccumi said the Tourism Department’s Instagram account had grown from about 52,300 followers to nearly 53,100 within five days, gaining around 800 new followers. He said improving the department’s online visibility was one of the key objectives of the initiative.
On food and refreshments, Tuccumi said the department had partnered with Kisama House Restaurant and Synergy Group to operate food stalls serving meals, snacks, beverages and other refreshments throughout the event.
Officials informed that tickets had been categorised into Gold and Silver. Gold tickets, priced at Rs 3,000, would be limited to 150 seats, while Silver tickets would cost Rs 200. Students with valid identity cards would be eligible for concessions under the Silver category.
Tickets will be available at One Bit, Equipment & Sports, Kisama House, Rhododendron Resort, D Cafe and the Directorate of Tourism.
The Department also informed that gates would open at 9 p.m., concerts would begin at 10 p.m., and the live screening of matches would start at 12.30 a.m.
Director of Tourism, Veyieko Doulo, highlighted another important aspect of the initiative, stating that the department had legally secured exclusive public screening rights through Zee Entertainment, the official rights holder associated with FIFA for public screenings in India.
Doulo observed that many organisations, colonies and villages often conducted public screenings without obtaining the necessary authorisation, exposing themselves to possible legal consequences. He said the department hoped the initiative would also raise awareness about the importance of complying with copyright regulations governing commercial public screenings.
Echoing the point, Tuccumi said Zee Entertainment had provided a branding toolkit and operational guidelines, which the department was strictly following to ensure full compliance with licensing requirements. He clarified that while private, in-house screenings were permitted, commercial public screenings without proper authorisation were illegal.
Officials further informed that fire safety measures, a first aid booth, volunteers from SAYO, and police personnel would be deployed throughout the event to ensure the safety and convenience of spectators.
