The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in the UK at 8:00 PM BST on Thursday 11 June, when Mexico take on South Africa in Mexico City. The Final lands at 8:00 PM BST on Sunday 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Between those two matches: 39 days, 104 matches, 48 teams, 16 stadiums across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
This is the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule converted to British Summer Time. With kick-offs spread across the afternoon and late night, UK fans get a real mixed bag. Early group stage slots (12 PM ET) land at 5:00 PM BST, comfortable for an evening kick-off. But the 9:00 PM ET games run until 2:00 AM BST, and some late matches push past 4:00 AM. England’s games are all in the 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM BST window, which is about as good as it gets for a North American tournament. Scotland’s matches skew later, with two finishing around midnight and their opener against Haiti at 2:00 AM BST.
Key Kickoff Times at a Glance:
| Event | Date | Day | Time (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Match: Mexico vs South Africa | 11 June | Thursday | 8:00 PM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Brazil vs Morocco | 13 June | Saturday | 11:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| Scotland vs Haiti (Group C) | 14 June | Sunday | 2:00 AM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| France vs Senegal | 16 June | Tuesday | 8:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| England vs Croatia (Group L) | 17 June | Wednesday | 9:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| England vs Ghana (Group L) | 23 June | Tuesday | 9:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Panama vs England (Group L) | 27 June | Saturday | 10:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| World Cup Final | 19 July | Sunday | 8:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
What is British Summer Time (BST)?
British Summer Time is the UK’s daylight saving timezone, running from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October each year. During BST, the UK is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, placing it at UTC+1. In 2026, clocks went forward on Sunday 29 March and go back on Sunday 25 October, so the entire World Cup falls squarely within BST.
For World Cup purposes, BST sits five hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET). That means a 3:00 PM ET kick-off becomes 8:00 PM BST. A 9:00 PM ET match, however, becomes 2:00 AM BST the following morning. Major cities on BST include London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Cardiff, and Belfast.
If you want to compare times with continental Europe, BST is one hour behind Central European Summer Time (CEST). So a 9:00 PM BST match would be 10:00 PM in Paris or Berlin. See the full World Cup 2026 guide for more timezone comparisons.
England and Scotland Group Stage Matches in BST
The UK sends two teams to the 2026 World Cup. England are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Scotland face a tough draw in Group C against Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Both nations have realistic paths to the knockout rounds, though Scotland’s group is considerably harder on paper.
England Group L Matches (BST)
| # | Date | Day | Kickoff (BST) | Match | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 17 June | Wednesday | 9:00 PM | England vs Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ITV |
| 45 | 23 June | Tuesday | 9:00 PM | England vs Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Boston | BBC |
| 67 | 27 June | Saturday | 10:00 PM | Panama vs England | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | ITV |
England vs Croatia (Match 22, 9:00 PM BST Wed 17 June): This is the opening group match every England fan has circled. Croatia knocked England out at the 2018 World Cup semifinal in extra time, and that wound still hasn’t fully healed. Revenge is the obvious narrative, though Croatia arrive as a changing team, no longer built around the Luka Modric generation at its peak. A win here sets the tone for the whole group campaign. On ITV.
England vs Ghana (Match 45, 9:00 PM BST Tue 23 June): Ghana are competitive but England will be strong favourites to take three points in Boston. A win effectively seals Group L qualification. On BBC.
Panama vs England (Match 67, 10:00 PM BST Sat 27 June): The final group game. By this point England may already be through, but the simultaneous kick-offs mean all four Group L teams know exactly what they need. Played at MetLife Stadium, the same ground that hosts the Final three weeks later. On ITV.
Scotland Group C Matches (BST)
| # | Date | Day | Kickoff (BST) | Match | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 14 June | Sunday | 2:00 AM | Haiti vs Scotland | Gillette Stadium, Boston | BBC |
| 30 | 19 June | Friday | 11:00 PM | Scotland vs Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ITV |
| 49 | 24 June | Wednesday | 11:00 PM | Scotland vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | BBC |
Haiti vs Scotland (Match 5, 2:00 AM BST Sun 14 June): Scotland’s opener is a late-night alarm call for UK fans. The 9:00 PM ET Saturday kick-off in Boston becomes 2:00 AM Sunday morning in the UK. Against Haiti, this is the match Scotland must win to stay in contention. Haiti are making steady progress but Scotland will start as favourites. On BBC.
Scotland vs Morocco (Match 30, 11:00 PM BST Fri 19 June): Morocco reached the 2022 World Cup semifinals and remain one of the most dangerous teams in this tournament. This is a crucial fixture, very possibly a must-win or must-not-lose game depending on group results so far. On ITV.
Scotland vs Brazil (Match 49, 11:00 PM BST Wed 24 June): The toughest fixture in Scotland’s group by some distance. Brazil are five-time World Cup winners and one of the clear tournament favourites. Depending on the group standings, this could be a dead rubber or the most important Scottish match in decades. On BBC.
World Cup 2026 Daily Match Times in BST
There are five standard kick-off windows used across the group stage. Here is how each ET window converts to BST and what viewing pattern that creates for UK fans.
| ET Kick-off | BST Kick-off | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM ET | 5:00 PM BST | Evening viewing, very comfortable |
| 3:00 PM ET | 8:00 PM BST | Prime time, ideal slot |
| 6:00 PM ET | 11:00 PM BST | Late night, manageable for most |
| 9:00 PM ET | 2:00 AM BST | Deep night, early risers or night owls |
| 11:00 PM ET | 4:00 AM BST | Only the most dedicated fans |
In the knockout rounds, the 3:00 PM ET slot is the most common, meaning most Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and the Final all land at 8:00 PM BST. The deeper you go in the tournament, the more UK-friendly the schedule gets.
Best Matches at Manageable BST Times:
| Match | Date | Day | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico vs South Africa (Opening Match) | 11 June | Thursday | 8:00 PM |
| France vs Senegal | 16 June | Tuesday | 8:00 PM |
| England vs Croatia | 17 June | Wednesday | 9:00 PM |
| England vs Ghana | 23 June | Tuesday | 9:00 PM |
| Panama vs England | 27 June | Saturday | 10:00 PM |
| Quarterfinal (Match 97) | 9 July | Thursday | 9:00 PM |
| Semifinal (Match 101) | 14 July | Tuesday | 8:00 PM |
| Semifinal (Match 102) | 15 July | Wednesday | 8:00 PM |
| Third-Place Match | 18 July | Saturday | 10:00 PM |
| World Cup Final | 19 July | Sunday | 8:00 PM |
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule in BST
The group stage runs from 11 June to 27 June 2026. All 48 teams play three matches each across 12 groups. The top two from each group advance automatically to the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams. On the final matchday of each group, both matches kick off simultaneously to prevent tactical manipulation.
Thursday, 11 June BST (Opening Day)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | Mexico vs South Africa | 8:00 PM Thu 11 Jun | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 2 | A | South Korea vs Czechia | 3:00 AM Fri 12 Jun | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
The opening match is a rematch of the 2010 World Cup group stage, where Mexico and South Africa drew 1-1 in Johannesburg on the tournament’s opening day. ITV carries the opener live.
Friday, 12 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | B | Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 8:00 PM Fri 12 Jun | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 4 | D | USA vs Paraguay | 2:00 AM Sat 13 Jun | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
Saturday, 13 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | B | Qatar vs Switzerland | 8:00 PM Sat 13 Jun | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 7 | C | Brazil vs Morocco | 11:00 PM Sat 13 Jun | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 5 | C | Haiti vs Scotland | 2:00 AM Sun 14 Jun | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
The marquee match of early group stage action. Brazil vs Morocco is one of the most anticipated fixtures of the entire tournament, pitting two of the top sides from different continents. Scotland fans face a very late night in the same group.
Sunday, 14 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | D | Australia vs Türkiye | 5:00 AM Sun 14 Jun | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 10 | E | Germany vs Curaçao | 6:00 PM Sun 14 Jun | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 11 | F | Netherlands vs Japan | 9:00 PM Sun 14 Jun | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 9 | E | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | 12:00 AM Mon 15 Jun | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 12 | F | Sweden vs Tunisia | 3:00 AM Mon 15 Jun | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Monday, 15 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | H | Spain vs Cape Verde | 5:00 PM Mon 15 Jun | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 16 | G | Belgium vs Egypt | 8:00 PM Mon 15 Jun | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 13 | H | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 11:00 PM Mon 15 Jun | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 15 | G | Iran vs New Zealand | 2:00 AM Tue 16 Jun | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
Tuesday, 16 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | I | France vs Senegal | 8:00 PM Tue 16 Jun | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 18 | I | Iraq vs Norway | 11:00 PM Tue 16 Jun | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 19 | J | Argentina vs Algeria | 2:00 AM Wed 17 Jun | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Argentina open their campaign against Algeria, who are appearing at their first World Cup since 2014. Iraq also return to the finals for the first time since 1986, ending a 40-year absence.
Wednesday, 17 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | J | Austria vs Jordan | 5:00 AM Wed 17 Jun | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 23 | K | Portugal vs DR Congo | 6:00 PM Wed 17 Jun | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 22 | L | England vs Croatia | 9:00 PM Wed 17 Jun | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 21 | L | Ghana vs Panama | 12:00 AM Thu 18 Jun | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 24 | K | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | 3:00 AM Thu 18 Jun | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
England’s opening match headlines the day. This is the 2018 World Cup semifinal rematch, with Croatia the opponents who ended England’s hopes in Russia eight years ago. The 9:00 PM BST kick-off is one of the best viewing slots of the entire group stage for UK fans.
Thursday, 18 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | A | Czechia vs South Africa | 5:00 PM Thu 18 Jun | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 26 | B | Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 8:00 PM Thu 18 Jun | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 27 | B | Canada vs Qatar | 11:00 PM Thu 18 Jun | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 28 | A | Mexico vs South Korea | 2:00 AM Fri 19 Jun | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
Friday, 19 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | D | USA vs Australia | 8:00 PM Fri 19 Jun | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 30 | C | Scotland vs Morocco | 11:00 PM Fri 19 Jun | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 29 | C | Brazil vs Haiti | 1:30 AM Sat 20 Jun | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 31 | D | Türkiye vs Paraguay | 4:00 AM Sat 20 Jun | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
Saturday, 20 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | F | Netherlands vs Sweden | 6:00 PM Sat 20 Jun | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 33 | E | Germany vs Ivory Coast | 9:00 PM Sat 20 Jun | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 34 | E | Ecuador vs Curaçao | 1:00 AM Sun 21 Jun | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Sunday, 21 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | F | Tunisia vs Japan | 5:00 AM Sun 21 Jun | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 38 | H | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 5:00 PM Sun 21 Jun | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 39 | G | Belgium vs Iran | 8:00 PM Sun 21 Jun | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 37 | H | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | 11:00 PM Sun 21 Jun | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 40 | G | New Zealand vs Egypt | 2:00 AM Mon 22 Jun | BC Place, Vancouver |
Match 36, Tunisia vs Japan, is the 1,000th match in World Cup history.
Monday, 22 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | J | Argentina vs Austria | 6:00 PM Mon 22 Jun | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 42 | I | France vs Iraq | 10:00 PM Mon 22 Jun | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 41 | I | Norway vs Senegal | 1:00 AM Tue 23 Jun | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 44 | J | Jordan vs Algeria | 4:00 AM Tue 23 Jun | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
Tuesday, 23 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | K | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 6:00 PM Tue 23 Jun | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 45 | L | England vs Ghana | 9:00 PM Tue 23 Jun | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 46 | L | Panama vs Croatia | 12:00 AM Wed 24 Jun | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 48 | K | Colombia vs DR Congo | 3:00 AM Wed 24 Jun | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
Wednesday, 24 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | B | Switzerland vs Canada | 8:00 PM Wed 24 Jun | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 52 | B | Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar | 8:00 PM Wed 24 Jun | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 49 | C | Scotland vs Brazil | 11:00 PM Wed 24 Jun | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 50 | C | Morocco vs Haiti | 11:00 PM Wed 24 Jun | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 53 | A | Czechia vs Mexico | 2:00 AM Thu 25 Jun | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 54 | A | South Africa vs South Korea | 2:00 AM Thu 25 Jun | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
Scotland’s final group game, simultaneously with Morocco vs Haiti, means all Group C sides know exactly what they need heading into the last 90 minutes. Scotland must get a result against five-time champions Brazil to have any chance of progressing.
Thursday, 25 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | E | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast | 9:00 PM Thu 25 Jun | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 56 | E | Ecuador vs Germany | 9:00 PM Thu 25 Jun | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 57 | F | Japan vs Sweden | 12:00 AM Fri 26 Jun | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 58 | F | Tunisia vs Netherlands | 12:00 AM Fri 26 Jun | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 59 | D | Türkiye vs USA | 3:00 AM Fri 26 Jun | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 60 | D | Paraguay vs Australia | 3:00 AM Fri 26 Jun | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
Friday, 26 June BST
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | I | Norway vs France | 8:00 PM Fri 26 Jun | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 62 | I | Senegal vs Iraq | 8:00 PM Fri 26 Jun | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 65 | H | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 1:00 AM Sat 27 Jun | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 66 | H | Uruguay vs Spain | 1:00 AM Sat 27 Jun | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| 63 | G | Egypt vs Iran | 4:00 AM Sat 27 Jun | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 64 | G | New Zealand vs Belgium | 4:00 AM Sat 27 Jun | BC Place, Vancouver |
Saturday, 27 June BST (Final Group Matchday)
| # | Group | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | L | Panama vs England | 10:00 PM Sat 27 Jun | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 68 | L | Croatia vs Ghana | 10:00 PM Sat 27 Jun | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 71 | K | Colombia vs Portugal | 12:30 AM Sun 28 Jun | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 72 | K | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | 12:30 AM Sun 28 Jun | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 69 | J | Algeria vs Austria | 3:00 AM Sun 28 Jun | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| 70 | J | Jordan vs Argentina | 3:00 AM Sun 28 Jun | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Schedule (BST)
This stage is brand new. It has never existed at any previous World Cup. Thirty-two teams enter and one defeat sends you home. Most matches in this round land at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM BST, making for excellent primetime viewing in the UK.
| # | Date | Day | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 28 Jun | Sunday | Runner-up A vs Runner-up B | 8:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 76 | 29 Jun | Monday | Winner C vs Runner-up F | 6:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 74 | 29 Jun | Monday | Winner E vs Best 3rd | 9:30 PM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 75 | 29 Jun | Monday | Winner F vs Runner-up C | 2:00 AM Tue | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| 78 | 30 Jun | Tuesday | Runner-up E vs Runner-up I | 6:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 77 | 30 Jun | Tuesday | Winner I vs Best 3rd | 10:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 79 | 30 Jun | Tuesday | Winner A vs Best 3rd | 2:00 AM Wed | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 80 | 1 Jul | Wednesday | Winner L vs Best 3rd | 5:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 82 | 1 Jul | Wednesday | Winner G vs Best 3rd | 9:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 81 | 1 Jul | Wednesday | Winner D vs Best 3rd | 1:00 AM Thu | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area |
| 84 | 2 Jul | Thursday | Winner H vs Runner-up J | 8:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 83 | 2 Jul | Thursday | Runner-up K vs Runner-up L | 12:00 AM Fri | BMO Field, Toronto |
| 85 | 2 Jul | Thursday | Winner B vs Best 3rd | 4:00 AM Fri | BC Place, Vancouver |
| 88 | 3 Jul | Friday | Runner-up D vs Runner-up G | 7:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 86 | 3 Jul | Friday | Winner J vs Runner-up H | 11:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 87 | 3 Jul | Friday | Winner K vs Best 3rd | 2:30 AM Sat | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Schedule (BST)
Eight matches, eight different winners. From this point on, every team is one game from a quarterfinal place.
| # | Date | Day | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | 4 Jul | Saturday | Winner M73 vs Winner M75 | 6:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| 89 | 4 Jul | Saturday | Winner M74 vs Winner M77 | 10:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| 91 | 5 Jul | Sunday | Winner M76 vs Winner M78 | 9:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| 92 | 5 Jul | Sunday | Winner M79 vs Winner M80 | 1:00 AM Mon | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| 93 | 6 Jul | Monday | Winner M83 vs Winner M84 | 8:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 94 | 6 Jul | Monday | Winner M81 vs Winner M82 | 1:00 AM Tue | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| 95 | 7 Jul | Tuesday | Winner M86 vs Winner M88 | 5:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| 96 | 7 Jul | Tuesday | Winner M85 vs Winner M87 | 9:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final (BST)
Quarterfinals
| # | Date | Day | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 9 Jul | Thursday | Winner M89 vs Winner M90 | 9:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| 98 | 10 Jul | Friday | Winner M93 vs Winner M94 | 8:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| 99 | 11 Jul | Saturday | Winner M91 vs Winner M92 | 10:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| 100 | 11 Jul | Saturday | Winner M95 vs Winner M96 | 2:00 AM Sun | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Semifinals
| # | Date | Day | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101 | 14 Jul | Tuesday | Winner M97 vs Winner M98 | 8:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| 102 | 15 Jul | Wednesday | Winner M99 vs Winner M100 | 8:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
Third-Place Match
| # | Date | Day | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | 18 Jul | Saturday | Loser M101 vs Loser M102 | 10:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
World Cup Final
| # | Date | Day | Match | Kickoff (BST) | Capacity | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | 19 Jul | Sunday | World Cup Final | 8:00 PM | 82,500 | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts the Final at a capacity of 82,500. It is the largest purpose-built stadium in the United States. The 2026 World Cup Final will also feature the first-ever live halftime show in World Cup history. Curated by Chris Martin and Phil Harvey (Coldplay’s manager), the show runs up to 25 minutes, with Global Citizen as producer. Read more about the World Cup 2026 halftime show and what to expect.
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in the UK
All 104 matches are free-to-air in the UK. BBC and ITV share the rights and between them every single game is available on TV and streaming with no subscription required.
On television, matches air across BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, and ITV4. For streaming, BBC iPlayer carries BBC matches and ITVX carries ITV matches. STV and STV Player serve Scottish viewers with the same coverage. A UK TV Licence is required to watch BBC broadcasts live, including BBC iPlayer. ITVX is free to watch without a licence.
ITV kicks off the tournament with the opening match, Mexico vs South Africa, on 11 June. England’s matches are split between ITV and BBC: England vs Croatia (ITV, 17 June), England vs Ghana (BBC, 23 June), and Panama vs England (ITV, 27 June). Scotland’s games are similarly split: Haiti vs Scotland (BBC, 14 June), Scotland vs Morocco (ITV, 19 June), and Scotland vs Brazil (BBC, 24 June). The Final on 19 July has shared coverage from both broadcasters, so you can choose your commentary team. Up to five matches each may also be available on BBC YouTube and ITV YouTube under a deal signed for the tournament, though specific matches are still to be confirmed. Download the BBC iPlayer app to stream on any device.
What UK Football Fans Need to Know
How many World Cup 2026 matches can UK fans watch before midnight BST?
Around 42 group stage matches kick off at or before 11:00 PM BST, covering the 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM ET windows. Those are the watchable-without-an-all-nighter games. The 9:00 PM and 11:00 PM ET slots push into 2:00 AM and 4:00 AM BST territory. In the knockout rounds, most games start at 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM BST, so the deeper into the tournament, the more civilised the schedule gets.
Which matches are on BBC and which are on ITV?
BBC and ITV each hold around half the matches. For England and Scotland fans, here is the confirmed split: England vs Croatia is on ITV, England vs Ghana is on BBC, and Panama vs England is on ITV. For Scotland, Haiti vs Scotland and Scotland vs Brazil are on BBC, while Scotland vs Morocco is on ITV. The Final has shared coverage on both channels simultaneously, so you choose your preferred commentary team. The full match-by-match assignment for all 104 games will be published by BBC and ITV ahead of the tournament.
Can UK fans attend the World Cup in person?
Yes. Tickets are available through the official FIFA ticketing platform. Travelling from the UK to North America requires no visa for short stays: US visits up to 90 days are covered by the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which you apply for online before travelling. Canada requires a similar eTA for UK passport holders. Mexico does not require a visa or tourist card for UK citizens for stays under 180 days. Check the FIFA official ticketing page for availability and pricing.
What is the best way to follow matches if I cannot watch live?
BBC iPlayer and ITVX both offer full match replays shortly after each game ends. FIFA+ streams selected matches and hosts highlights globally. BBC Sport and ITV Sport apps push score notifications in real time. If you want to avoid spoilers and watch on delay, the 9:00 PM ET matches (2:00 AM BST) are the easiest ones to catch the next morning as a catch-up.
Are pubs and bars allowed to show BBC and ITV World Cup coverage?
Yes, with the right licence in place. UK pubs and bars need a premises licence that covers TV broadcasting and public performance. BBC and ITV have confirmed they are not restricting commercial premises from showing World Cup matches. Venues showing the games publicly need to hold a valid Premises Licence, but no additional sports rights licence is required for free-to-air BBC or ITV broadcasts. Check your local pub’s schedule as many will show every England and Scotland match.
What happens if an England or Scotland knockout match is tied after 90 minutes?
Extra time of 30 minutes (two 15-minute halves) is played first. If the score is still level, the match goes to a penalty shootout. From the Round of 32 onward, plan for around 150 minutes total if a match goes the distance. For a late BST kick-off that was already at 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM, extra time and penalties could push the finish well past midnight.
Does the UK observe any further clock changes during the World Cup?
No. BST runs from late March to late October. The World Cup (11 June to 19 July 2026) falls entirely within BST, so the UTC+1 offset stays constant throughout. Every time shown on this page is correct for the full duration of the tournament with no adjustment needed.
