World Cup 2026: 13 Kickoff Times Across 16 Cities in 3 Countries

Football fans now have the full timetable for the 2026 World Cup after the draw, revealing where and when every game will be played.

The tournament spans 16 venues across three nations—Canada, Mexico and the United States—and includes 13 different kickoff times to cater to a global audience.

Here at INLIBER Sport we break down the schedule, showing when games happen and how often you’ll need to set an early alarm or stay up late to watch live.

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Why so many kickoff times?

The World Cup will be staged across 16 cities in four time zones, spanning three countries and up to 2,800 miles apart. Climate and heat also influenced start times. FIFA explains the plan aims to protect players and fans while letting supporters around the world follow their teams in real time across zones.

For European viewers, several group-stage matches will start in the late hours because of venue times.

For example, all five group games in Kansas City begin in the small hours UK time, with 00:00 BST marking the opening kickoff for Tunisia vs Netherlands on Friday 26 June and 03:00 BST for Algeria vs Austria on Sunday 28 June.

The San Francisco Bay Area hosts two matches starting at 05:00 BST (Austria vs Jordan on Tue 16 June and the European playoff winner vs Paraguay on Fri 19 June).

There are also 05:00 BST kickoffs in Vancouver (Australia vs the European playoff winner on Sat 13 June) and Guadalupe, Mexico (Tunisia vs Japan on Sat 20 June).

In total, 35 group-stage games will begin between 00:00 BST and 05:00 BST — almost half of all group fixtures.

The most common start time is 20:00 BST, used for 12 group-stage games.

Knockout stage overview

As the tournament moves into the knockout rounds, timing becomes slightly friendlier for night owls. Six of the 16 last-32 ties start at 00:00 BST or later, while only two last-16 games and one quarter-final keep that late schedule. Semifinals and the final both kick off at 20:00 BST, with the final planned for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

England and Scotland fixtures

England open Group L against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June, with a 22:00 BST kickoff. Their second match is vs Ghana in Boston on 23 June at 21:00 BST, and the final group game against Panama in New Jersey on 27 June starts at 22:00 BST.

Scotland begin Group C against Haiti in Boston on 13 June at 02:00 BST, followed by Morocco in Boston on 19 June and Brazil in Miami on 24 June, both at 23:00 BST.

Note: All times are shown in BST unless otherwise stated.

Overnight fixtures to watch

One eye-catching late clash is Uruguay vs Spain in Zapopan, Mexico on 27 June, kicking off at 01:00 BST. Argentina could also feature around 03:00 BST if Lionel Messi plays, with a potential match against Jordan on 28 June.

Event timeline

The 48-team World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026, with 104 matches across 39 days. The opener features Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, starting at 20:00 BST on 11 June. The final takes place at MetLife Stadium on 19 July, also at 20:00 BST.

Summary

The 2026 World Cup uses a blend of late-night and early-evening starts across 16 host cities in three nations. Almost half of the group-stage fixtures begin between midnight and 05:00 BST, with 20:00 BST as the most common time. The knockout rounds simplify timing, culminating in a 20:00 BST final in New Jersey.

Key insight: The tournament schedule balances player welfare with global audience reach by spreading kickoff times across multiple time zones. Source: BBC Sport