The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens at 4:00 AM JST on Friday, June 12, and runs all the way to the Final at 4:00 AM JST on Monday, July 20. That’s 39 days, 104 matches, 48 teams, and 16 stadiums across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia, so this tournament matters.
This is the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule converted to Japan Standard Time (JST). Japan is UTC+9, 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time. Most matches land between 4:00 AM and noon JST. Set your alarm, brew your coffee, and you can watch before the workday starts.
Key Kickoff Times at a Glance:
| Event | Date (JST) | Day | Time (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Match (Mexico vs South Africa) | Jun 12 | Fri | 4:00 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Netherlands vs Japan | Jun 15 | Mon | 5:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Brazil vs Morocco | Jun 14 | Sun | 7:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| Tunisia vs Japan | Jun 21 | Sun | 1:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Japan vs Sweden | Jun 26 | Fri | 8:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Argentina vs Algeria | Jun 17 | Wed | 10:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| World Cup Final | Jul 20 | Mon | 4:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
What is Japan Standard Time (JST)?
Japan Standard Time is UTC+9. Japan sits nine hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time, which puts it 13 hours ahead of Eastern Time during the tournament. All World Cup matches are played in June and July, so there are no adjustments to worry about.
Japan does not observe daylight saving time. JST is fixed at UTC+9 year-round. That makes timezone arithmetic simple: every ET time on this page has exactly 13 hours added. Neighboring South Korea shares the same KST (UTC+9), and China is one hour behind at CST (UTC+8). If you have friends across the region, they are watching the same matches at almost the same local times.
JST covers all of Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kyoto, and every other city in the country.
Japan Group F Matches in JST
Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. All three group stage matches fall at early-morning JST times, ideal for fans who can watch before the workday starts. Japan face a tough test against the Netherlands in their opener, then play the 1,000th match in World Cup history against Tunisia, before closing against Sweden.
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15 | Mon | 11 | Netherlands vs Japan | 5:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Jun 21 | Sun | 36 | Tunisia vs Japan | 1:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Jun 26 | Fri | 57 | Japan vs Sweden | 8:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
The Netherlands opener at 5:00 AM requires an alarm. Tunisia on Sunday at 1:00 PM is the best slot of the three, and it is also the 1,000th match in World Cup history. Sweden at 8:00 AM Friday is a must-win if Japan need the points. All three group games fall at morning or early afternoon JST, which is good news for fans.
World Cup 2026 Daily Match Times in JST
All match times at this tournament are set in ET. There are five main ET kickoff slots. Here is how each one looks from Japan.
| ET Kickoff | JST Kickoff | Typical For |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM ET | 1:00 AM JST (next day) | Late-night viewing, or catch on replay |
| 1:00 PM ET | 2:00 AM JST (next day) | Very late night |
| 3:00 PM ET | 4:00 AM JST (next day) | Early alarm, before work |
| 4:00 PM ET | 5:00 AM JST (next day) | Pre-commute viewing |
| 5:00 PM ET | 6:00 AM JST (next day) | Morning, manageable |
| 6:00 PM ET | 7:00 AM JST (next day) | Ideal morning slot |
| 7:00 PM ET | 8:00 AM JST (next day) | Best slot, morning coffee |
| 8:00 PM ET | 9:00 AM JST (next day) | Mid-morning, comfortable |
| 9:00 PM ET | 10:00 AM JST (next day) | Mid-morning, comfortable |
| 10:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM JST (next day) | Late morning, great slot |
| 11:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM JST (next day) | Lunchtime football |
Knockout round matches tend to fall at 3:00 PM and 9:00 PM ET, which land at 4:00 AM and 10:00 AM JST. The 10:00 AM slot is very manageable. The 4:00 AM slot requires dedication, but for Japan matches in the knockout rounds, expect the whole country to be awake.
Best Matches at Manageable JST Times:
| # | Match | Date (JST) | Day | Time (JST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Tunisia vs Japan | Jun 21 | Sun | 1:00 PM |
| 57 | Japan vs Sweden | Jun 26 | Fri | 8:00 AM |
| 7 | Brazil vs Morocco | Jun 14 | Sun | 7:00 AM |
| 17 | France vs Senegal | Jun 17 | Wed | 4:00 AM |
| 19 | Argentina vs Algeria | Jun 17 | Wed | 10:00 AM |
| 22 | England vs Croatia | Jun 18 | Thu | 5:00 AM |
| 101 | Semifinal 1 | Jul 15 | Wed | 4:00 AM |
| 104 | World Cup Final | Jul 20 | Mon | 4:00 AM |
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule in JST
The group stage runs from June 12 to June 28 in JST. All 48 teams play three matches each across 12 groups. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams. The final group matchday sees all teams in each group kick off at the same time.
Friday, June 12 JST (Opening Day)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Mexico vs South Africa | 4:00 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 2 | A | South Korea vs Czechia | 11:00 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
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.
Saturday, June 13 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | B | Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 4:00 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 4 | D | USA vs Paraguay | 10:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
Sunday, June 14 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | D | Australia vs Türkiye | 1:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 8 | B | Qatar vs Switzerland | 4:00 AM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| 7 | C | Brazil vs Morocco | 7:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 5 | C | Haiti vs Scotland | 10:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
Brazil vs Morocco on Sunday morning is the marquee match of the first week. Two of the most technically gifted squads in the tournament, and a 7:00 AM JST start means you can watch it with coffee in hand before the day gets going.
Monday, June 15 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | E | Germany vs Curaçao | 2:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 11 | F | Netherlands vs Japan | 5:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| 9 | E | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | 8:00 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 12 | F | Sweden vs Tunisia | 11:00 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Tuesday, June 16 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | H | Spain vs Cape Verde | 1:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 16 | G | Belgium vs Egypt | 4:00 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 13 | H | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 7:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 15 | G | Iran vs New Zealand | 10:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
Wednesday, June 17 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | J | Austria vs Jordan | 1:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| 17 | I | France vs Senegal | 4:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 18 | I | Iraq vs Norway | 7:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 19 | J | Argentina vs Algeria | 10:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Argentina open their tournament at 10:00 AM JST, a perfect mid-morning kick. Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, ending a 40-year wait, when they face Norway earlier that morning.
Thursday, June 18 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | K | Portugal vs DR Congo | 2:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 22 | L | England vs Croatia | 5:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| 21 | L | Ghana vs Panama | 8:00 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 24 | K | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | 11:00 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
England vs Croatia at 5:00 AM JST. A rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, when Croatia knocked England out in extra time. Both teams carry extra motivation into this one.
Friday, June 19 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | A | Czechia vs South Africa | 1:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 26 | B | Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 4:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 27 | B | Canada vs Qatar | 7:00 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 28 | A | Mexico vs South Korea | 10:00 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
Saturday, June 20 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | D | USA vs Australia | 4:00 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 30 | C | Scotland vs Morocco | 7:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 29 | C | Brazil vs Haiti | 9:30 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 31 | D | Türkiye vs Paraguay | 12:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
Sunday, June 21 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | F | Tunisia vs Japan | 1:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 35 | F | Netherlands vs Sweden | 2:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 33 | E | Germany vs Ivory Coast | 5:00 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 34 | E | Ecuador vs Curaçao | 9:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Tunisia vs Japan at 1:00 PM is the best JST slot for a Japan match in the entire group stage. This is also the 1,000th match in World Cup history, a genuine milestone. Expect it to be a milestone moment for Japanese football too.
Monday, June 22 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | H | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 1:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 39 | G | Belgium vs Iran | 4:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 37 | H | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | 7:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 40 | G | New Zealand vs Egypt | 10:00 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Tuesday, June 23 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | J | Argentina vs Austria | 2:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| 42 | I | France vs Iraq | 6:00 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 41 | I | Norway vs Senegal | 9:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 44 | J | Jordan vs Algeria | 12:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
Wednesday, June 24 JST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | K | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 2:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 45 | L | England vs Ghana | 5:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 46 | L | Panama vs Croatia | 8:00 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 48 | K | Colombia vs DR Congo | 11:00 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
Thursday, June 25 JST (Final Group Matchday B, A)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | B | Switzerland vs Canada | 4:00 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 52 | B | Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar | 4:00 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 49 | C | Scotland vs Brazil | 7:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 50 | C | Morocco vs Haiti | 7:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 53 | A | Czechia vs Mexico | 10:00 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 54 | A | South Africa vs South Korea | 10:00 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Friday, June 26 JST (Final Group Matchday F, D)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | E | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast | 5:00 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 56 | E | Ecuador vs Germany | 5:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 57 | F | Japan vs Sweden | 8:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| 58 | F | Tunisia vs Netherlands | 8:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 59 | D | Türkiye vs USA | 11:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 60 | D | Paraguay vs Australia | 11:00 AM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
Saturday, June 27 JST (Final Group Matchday I, H, G)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | I | Norway vs France | 4:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 62 | I | Senegal vs Iraq | 4:00 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 65 | H | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 9:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 66 | H | Uruguay vs Spain | 9:00 AM | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| 63 | G | Egypt vs Iran | 12:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 64 | G | New Zealand vs Belgium | 12:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
Sunday, June 28 JST (Final Group Matchday L, K, J)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | L | Panama vs England | 6:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| 68 | L | Croatia vs Ghana | 6:00 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 71 | K | Colombia vs Portugal | 8:30 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 72 | K | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | 8:30 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 69 | J | Algeria vs Austria | 11:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 70 | J | Jordan vs Argentina | 11:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule (JST)
This stage is brand new. It has never existed at any previous World Cup. One defeat and your tournament is over.
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29 | Mon | 73 | Runner-up A vs Runner-up B | 4:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Jun 30 | Tue | 76 | Winner C vs Runner-up F | 2:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Jun 30 | Tue | 74 | Winner E vs Best 3rd | 5:30 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Jun 30 | Tue | 75 | Winner F vs Runner-up C | 10:00 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Jul 1 | Wed | 78 | Runner-up E vs Runner-up I | 2:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Jul 1 | Wed | 77 | Winner I vs Best 3rd | 6:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| Jul 1 | Wed | 79 | Winner A vs Best 3rd | 10:00 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Jul 2 | Thu | 80 | Winner L vs Best 3rd | 1:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Jul 2 | Thu | 82 | Winner G vs Best 3rd | 5:00 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Jul 2 | Thu | 81 | Winner D vs Best 3rd | 9:00 AM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Jul 3 | Fri | 84 | Winner H vs Runner-up J | 4:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Jul 3 | Fri | 83 | Runner-up K vs Runner-up L | 8:00 AM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Jul 3 | Fri | 85 | Winner B vs Best 3rd | 12:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Jul 4 | Sat | 88 | Runner-up D vs Runner-up G | 3:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Jul 4 | Sat | 86 | Winner J vs Runner-up H | 7:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Jul 4 | Sat | 87 | Winner K vs Best 3rd | 10:30 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Schedule (JST)
Eight matches. Win and you reach the last eight. The stakes keep climbing.
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 5 | Sun | 90 | Winner M73 vs Winner M75 | 2:00 AM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Jul 5 | Sun | 89 | Winner M74 vs Winner M77 | 6:00 AM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Jul 6 | Mon | 91 | Winner M76 vs Winner M78 | 5:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
| Jul 6 | Mon | 92 | Winner M79 vs Winner M80 | 9:00 AM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Jul 7 | Tue | 93 | Winner M83 vs Winner M84 | 4:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Jul 7 | Tue | 94 | Winner M81 vs Winner M82 | 9:00 AM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Jul 8 | Wed | 95 | Winner M86 vs Winner M88 | 1:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Jul 8 | Wed | 96 | Winner M85 vs Winner M87 | 5:00 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final (JST)
Quarterfinals
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10 | Fri | 97 | Winner M89 vs Winner M90 | 5:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Jul 11 | Sat | 98 | Winner M93 vs Winner M94 | 4:00 AM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Jul 12 | Sun | 99 | Winner M91 vs Winner M92 | 6:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Jul 12 | Sun | 100 | Winner M95 vs Winner M96 | 10:00 AM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Semifinals
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15 | Wed | 101 | Winner M97 vs Winner M98 | 4:00 AM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Jul 16 | Thu | 102 | Winner M99 vs Winner M100 | 4:00 AM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
Third-Place Match
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 19 | Sun | 103 | Loser M101 vs Loser M102 | 6:00 AM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
World Cup Final
| Date (JST) | Day | # | Match | Kickoff (JST) | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 20 | Mon | 104 | Winner M101 vs Winner M102 | 4:00 AM | MetLife Stadium, NJ | 82,500 |
MetLife Stadium hosts the Final at a tournament capacity of 82,500. It is also the venue for the first-ever live halftime show at a FIFA World Cup Final. Global Citizen is producing, with Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey curating. The show runs up to 25 minutes. For Japan fans, the 4:00 AM Monday kick means setting your alarm early. Check the World Cup 2026 halftime show page for artist updates.
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in Japan
Dentsu holds the broadcast rights for Japan, and has sublicensed the tournament to multiple partners. DAZN Japan has streaming rights to all 104 matches. NHK, Japan’s national public broadcaster, has secured a sub-license covering Japan national team matches, the opening fixture, and the Final for free-to-air television. Nippon TV and Fuji TV also hold sublicensed rights for selected matches.
For complete coverage, DAZN is the most reliable option with all 104 matches. NHK will broadcast Japan’s group games and the Final free to air. Check NHK’s site for the confirmed list closer to the tournament. FIFA+ offers free highlights for matches you cannot watch live.
What Japan Football Fans Need to Know
How many matches can Japan fans watch before midnight in JST?
The vast majority. JST is 13 hours ahead of ET, so any match kicking off at 11:00 AM ET or earlier lands before midnight in Japan. Only a handful fall in the 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM JST window. Well over 90 of the 104 matches are watchable without a late night.
Can Japan fans attend the World Cup in person?
Yes. Japan passport holders can enter the USA, Canada, and Mexico without a visa for short stays, but verify the requirements before you travel. Tickets sell fast for Japan matches. Act early when FIFA opens sales. Official tickets only: FIFA official ticketing.
What is the best way to follow matches I cannot watch live?
FIFA+ offers free highlights and replays for most matches. DAZN subscribers can rewatch any game on demand. Set a news blackout on your phone and catch the replay fresh in the morning. A 4:00 AM start does not have to mean lost sleep.
Which day has the most matches at convenient JST times?
Friday June 26 is the best day for Japan fans, with Japan vs Sweden at 8:00 AM JST. Sunday June 21 is close behind, with Tunisia vs Japan at 1:00 PM JST. Both are prime viewing windows.
Is there a time difference between World Cup venues?
Yes, the 16 stadiums span four North American time zones. All times on this page are already converted to JST. No further conversion needed. If a match shows 8:00 AM JST, that is your kickoff time regardless of venue.
What happens if a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes?
The match goes to 30 minutes of extra time, split into two 15-minute halves. If scores are still level, it goes to a penalty shootout. From kickoff to the final penalty, allow up to 150 minutes total. Plan your schedule accordingly, especially for those early-morning JST slots.
