The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Friday, June 12, and the Final lands at 12:30 AM IST on Monday, July 20. Between those two moments: 39 days, 104 matches, 48 teams, 16 stadiums across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
This is the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule converted to Indian Standard Time. With IST sitting at UTC+5:30, the tournament runs almost entirely between midnight and 9 AM. Roughly 54 of the 72 group stage matches kick off between 12:30 AM and 6:00 AM IST. About 12 matches land between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM, and around 6 matches fall in the late evening window of 9:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Be ready for early mornings and late nights throughout the summer.
Key Kickoff Times at a Glance:
| Event | Date (IST) | Day | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Match (Mexico vs South Africa) | Jun 12 | Friday | 12:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Brazil vs Morocco | Jun 14 | Sunday | 3:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| France vs Senegal | Jun 17 | Wednesday | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| Argentina vs Algeria | Jun 17 | Wednesday | 6:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| England vs Croatia | Jun 18 | Thursday | 12:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| World Cup Final | Jul 20 | Monday | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
What is Indian Standard Time (IST)?
Indian Standard Time is UTC+5:30. That half-hour offset makes IST one of the few major timezones that sits off the hour mark, which means you need to add both hours and minutes when converting from Eastern Time. For every ET kickoff time, add 9 hours and 30 minutes to get the IST equivalent.
India does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so IST is fixed year-round. No adjustments needed during the tournament. Every kickoff time on this page is accurate from June 11 through July 19 ET (June 12 through July 20 IST for most matches).
IST covers all of India, from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Neighboring Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) is 30 minutes behind IST, while Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6) is 30 minutes ahead. For the full picture of how the World Cup fits into global football viewing, see the World Cup 2026 timezone hub.
World Cup 2026 Daily Match Times in IST
| Time Window (IST) | ET Equivalent | Typical Schedule | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM | 12 PM – 1 PM ET | Early afternoon matches | Late evening prime time |
| 12:30 AM – 1:00 AM | 3 PM ET | Main afternoon slot | Night owls, light sleepers |
| 3:30 AM – 4:00 AM | 6 PM ET | Evening prime time | Dedicated fans only |
| 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM | 9 PM ET | Prime time matches | Early risers, morning commuters |
| 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | 11 PM ET | Late-night US matches | Morning viewers with flexible schedules |
Knockout matches follow the same ET windows. The Final on July 19 ET (12:30 AM IST Jul 20) kicks off at the standard 3 PM ET slot, which is one of the more manageable IST times for a major match.
Best Matches at Manageable IST Times:
| Match | Date (IST) | Day | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Match: Mexico vs South Africa | Jun 12 | Friday | 12:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Germany vs Curaçao | Jun 14 | Sunday | 10:30 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| France vs Senegal | Jun 17 | Wednesday | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| Portugal vs DR Congo | Jun 17 | Wednesday | 10:30 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| England vs Croatia | Jun 18 | Thursday | 12:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Spain vs Germany | Jun 25 | Thursday | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| Semifinal 1 | Jul 15 | Wednesday | 12:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| World Cup Final | Jul 20 | Monday | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule in IST
The group stage runs from June 12 to June 28 IST (June 11 to June 28 ET). All 48 teams play across 12 groups, with the top two from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32. On the final matchday, all teams in the same group kick off simultaneously to prevent tactical manipulation. Check the World Cup 2026 countdown to see exactly how long until the tournament begins.
Friday, June 12 IST (Opening Day)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Mexico vs South Africa | 12:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
Match 1 is a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opening match, when Mexico and South Africa drew 1-1 at Soccer City in Johannesburg. Tshabalala scored for the hosts, Marquez equalized for Mexico. Sixteen years later, the same two nations meet again. See the full story on the World Cup 2026 opening ceremony page.
Saturday, June 13 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | B | USA vs Paraguay | 12:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 3 | C | Canada vs Venezuela | 3:30 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 4 | D | South Korea vs Ecuador | 3:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 5 | E | Haiti vs Scotland | 6:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 6 | F | Morocco vs Türkiye | 9:30 AM | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
Sunday, June 14 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | F | Brazil vs Morocco | 3:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 8 | A | DR Congo vs Senegal | 12:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 9 | B | Curaçao vs Bolivia | 12:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 10 | C | Chile vs Australia | 3:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 11 | D | Netherlands vs Japan | 6:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 12 | E | Germany vs Curaçao | 10:30 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
Brazil and Morocco met in the 2022 World Cup Round of 16. This is a marquee group stage match given Morocco’s surprise semifinal run that year.
Monday, June 15 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | G | Iran vs New Zealand | 12:30 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 14 | H | Saudi Arabia vs Portugal | 12:30 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 15 | I | Senegal vs Norway | 3:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 16 | J | Jordan vs Romania | 3:30 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 17 | K | Cameroon vs Colombia | 6:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
Tuesday, June 16 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | I | Iraq vs Ukraine | 12:30 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 19 | J | Argentina vs Slovakia | 12:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 20 | K | Costa Rica vs Uzbekistan | 3:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 21 | L | Ghana vs Czechia | 3:30 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
Argentina, the defending champions, open their tournament. Match 18 features Iraq’s first World Cup appearance since 1986, ending a 40-year absence.
Wednesday, June 17 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | L | England vs Croatia | 12:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 23 | A | South Africa vs DR Congo | 12:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 25 | F | France vs Senegal | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 24 | B | USA vs Bolivia | 3:30 AM | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 26 | C | Venezuela vs Chile | 6:30 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| 27 | K | Portugal vs DR Congo | 10:30 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
Match 22 is a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, when Croatia beat England 2-1 after extra time. The two have met in major tournaments multiple times since.
Thursday, June 18 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | D | Ecuador vs Japan | 12:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 29 | E | Scotland vs Germany | 8:30 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 30 | G | Belgium vs Egypt | 12:30 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 31 | H | Cape Verde vs Uruguay | 8:30 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Friday, June 19 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | I | Ukraine vs Norway | 12:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 33 | J | Slovakia vs Romania | 12:30 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 34 | L | Panama vs Ghana | 3:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 35 | A | Senegal vs Mexico | 3:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
Saturday, June 20 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | B | Tunisia vs Japan | 9:30 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 37 | C | Australia vs Venezuela | 12:30 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 38 | D | Netherlands vs South Korea | 12:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 39 | E | Curaçao vs Haiti | 3:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 40 | F | Türkiye vs Brazil | 3:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Match 36 is the 1,000th match in World Cup history (964 prior matches plus 36 from this tournament). It kicks off in Monterrey at the Estadio BBVA.
Sunday, June 21 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | G | New Zealand vs Belgium | 12:30 AM | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 42 | H | Portugal vs Saudi Arabia | 12:30 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 43 | K | Colombia vs Costa Rica | 3:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 44 | L | Czechia vs Panama | 3:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 45 | I | Iraq vs Senegal | 6:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 46 | J | Romania vs Argentina | 6:30 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
Monday, June 22 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | A | South Africa vs Mexico | 12:30 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 48 | B | Bolivia vs USA | 12:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 49 | C | Australia vs Canada | 3:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 50 | D | Japan vs South Korea | 3:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 51 | E | Scotland vs Curaçao | 6:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 52 | F | Morocco vs France | 6:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
Tuesday, June 23 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | G | Egypt vs Belgium | 12:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 54 | H | Spain vs Cape Verde | 12:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 55 | I | Ukraine vs Iraq | 3:30 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 56 | K | Uzbekistan vs Cameroon | 3:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 57 | L | Croatia vs England | 6:30 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| 58 | J | Algeria vs Jordan | 6:30 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Wednesday, June 24 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59 | E | Germany vs Haiti | 12:30 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 60 | F | Senegal vs Türkiye | 12:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
Thursday, June 25 IST (Final Group Matchday)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | I | Norway vs France | 12:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 62 | I | Senegal vs Iraq | 12:30 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 65 | H | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 5:30 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 66 | H | Uruguay vs Spain | 5:30 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| 63 | G | Egypt vs Iran | 8:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 64 | G | New Zealand vs Belgium | 8:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Sunday, June 28 IST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | L | Panama vs England | 2:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 68 | L | Croatia vs Ghana | 2:30 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 71 | K | Colombia vs Portugal | 5:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 72 | K | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | 5:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 69 | J | Algeria vs Austria | 7:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 70 | J | Jordan vs Argentina | 7:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule (IST)
This stage is brand new. Never existed at any previous World Cup. Lose and your tournament is over.
| # | Date (IST) | Day | Matchup | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | Jun 29 | Monday | Runner-up A vs Runner-up B | 12:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 76 | Jun 29 | Monday | Winner C vs Runner-up F | 10:30 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 74 | Jun 30 | Tuesday | Winner E vs Best 3rd (A/B/C/D/F) | 2:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 75 | Jun 30 | Tuesday | Winner F vs Runner-up C | 6:30 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 78 | Jun 30 | Tuesday | Runner-up E vs Runner-up I | 10:30 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 77 | Jul 1 | Wednesday | Winner I vs Best 3rd (C/D/F/G/H) | 2:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 79 | Jul 1 | Wednesday | Winner A vs Best 3rd (C/E/F/H/I) | 6:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 80 | Jul 1 | Wednesday | Winner L vs Best 3rd (E/H/I/J/K) | 9:30 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 82 | Jul 2 | Thursday | Winner G vs Best 3rd (A/E/H/I/J) | 1:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 81 | Jul 2 | Thursday | Winner D vs Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J) | 5:30 AM | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 84 | Jul 3 | Friday | Winner H vs Runner-up J | 12:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 83 | Jul 3 | Friday | Runner-up K vs Runner-up L | 4:30 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 85 | Jul 3 | Friday | Winner B vs Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J) | 8:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 88 | Jul 3 | Friday | Runner-up D vs Runner-up G | 11:30 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 86 | Jul 4 | Saturday | Winner J vs Runner-up H | 3:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 87 | Jul 4 | Saturday | Winner K vs Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L) | 7:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Schedule (IST)
Eight matches remain. Every team left is playing to reach the last eight in the world.
| # | Date (IST) | Day | Matchup | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Jul 4 | Saturday | Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 | 10:30 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 89 | Jul 5 | Sunday | Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 | 2:30 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 91 | Jul 6 | Monday | Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 | 1:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 92 | Jul 6 | Monday | Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 | 5:30 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 93 | Jul 7 | Tuesday | Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 | 12:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 94 | Jul 7 | Tuesday | Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 | 5:30 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 95 | Jul 7 | Tuesday | Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 | 9:30 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 96 | Jul 8 | Wednesday | Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 | 1:30 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final (IST)
Quarterfinals
| # | Date (IST) | Day | Matchup | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | Jul 10 | Friday | Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 | 1:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 98 | Jul 11 | Saturday | Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 | 12:30 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 99 | Jul 12 | Sunday | Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 | 2:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 100 | Jul 12 | Sunday | Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 | 6:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Semifinals
| # | Date (IST) | Day | Matchup | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | Jul 15 | Wednesday | Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 | 12:30 AM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 102 | Jul 16 | Thursday | Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 | 12:30 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
Third-Place Match
| # | Date (IST) | Day | Matchup | Kickoff (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | Jul 19 | Sunday | Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 | 2:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
World Cup Final
| # | Date (IST) | Day | Matchup | Kickoff (IST) | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | Jul 20 | Monday | TBD vs TBD | 12:30 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ | 78,576 |
MetLife Stadium hosts the Final at a FIFA tournament capacity of 78,576, reduced from its regular NFL capacity of 82,500 to accommodate FIFA’s wider field requirement. The 2026 Final will also feature the first-ever live halftime show at a World Cup Final. Read more at our dedicated World Cup 2026 Final page, including details on the halftime show.
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in India
Official broadcasting details for India will be confirmed closer to the tournament. As of April 2026, FIFA’s media rights tender for the Indian subcontinent remains open. No broadcaster has signed a deal. Check the FIFA official media rights list for the latest updates.
In the meantime, FIFA+ (fifa.com/fifaplus) streams selected matches free globally and is worth bookmarking now. If a deal closes before June, this page will be updated with confirmed channel details.
What India Football Fans Need to Know
How many matches can fans watch before midnight in IST?
About six group stage matches kick off at 9:30 PM or 10:30 PM IST, which means they finish well before 1 AM. These are the most watchable slots for fans who cannot stay up all night. The Final also kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Monday, July 20, making it manageable for a weekend-night watch.
Which day has the most matches at watchable times for India?
June 14 (Sunday) and June 17 (Wednesday) IST are the best days. On June 14, Germany vs Curaçao starts at 10:30 PM and Portugal vs DR Congo starts at 10:30 PM on June 17. Both are evening kickoffs that end before 1 AM. Weekends also mean matches at 9:30 AM and 6:30 AM are easier to catch without missing work.
Can Indian fans attend the World Cup in person?
Yes. Matches are held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Indian passport holders need a US visa (or ESTA if eligible under any visa waiver arrangement), a Canadian eTA, or a Mexican FMM tourist permit depending on which matches they attend. Tickets are available through official FIFA ticketing at fifa.com.
What is the best way to follow matches if I cannot watch live?
FIFA+ offers free match replays and highlights after each game. Once a broadcast deal is confirmed for India, the official channel’s app will likely carry on-demand replays too. Set your notifications so you avoid the score before watching.
Does India observe DST during the World Cup?
No. India does not observe Daylight Saving Time. IST stays fixed at UTC+5:30 year-round, so every kickoff time on this page is accurate for the entire tournament with no adjustments needed.
How many teams are making their World Cup debut in 2026?
Four nations appear at a World Cup for the first time: Cape Verde (Group H), Curaçao (Group E), Jordan (Group J), and Uzbekistan (Group K).
What if a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes?
The match goes to 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout if still level. Budget about 150 minutes total for any knockout fixture. For the 12:30 AM IST kickoffs, that means the match could run until around 3:00 AM IST.