In certain aspects of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and a system for foveated rendering of omnidirectional media content are provided. The method includes receiving a request to access a stream of media data associated with the omnidirectional media content at a point in time the client is accessing the stream of media data for foveated rendering of the omnidirectional media content; determining an initial portion of media data, starting from the point in time the client requests to access, for foveated rendering of the omnidirectional media content for delivery to a client device; and transmitting, in response to the request, the initial portion of media data. The initial portion of media data comprises a portion of the omnidirectional media content for a viewport that is foveated rendered or to be displayed using foveated rendering on the client device according to the request.