FIFA World Cup 2026 full schedule in IST: All 104 group-stage fixtures
Synopsis
For the first time, 48 teams will contest a FIFA World Cup — and Indian fans face a schedule almost entirely in the dead of night. From Brazil vs Morocco at 3:30 AM IST on 14 June to the MetLife Stadium final on 20 July, here is every group-stage kickoff time converted to IST, plus the full knockout roadmap.
Key Takeaways
FIFA World Cup 2026 opens on 12 June 2026 (IST) and concludes with the final on 20 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey .
Record 48 teams compete across 104 matches in the USA, Canada, and Mexico .
New format: 12 groups of four teams ; top two plus eight best third-placed sides advance to a new Round of 32 .
Group stage concludes 28 June ; knockout rounds run from 29 June through 20 July .
Semifinals on 15 July (Arlington) and 16 July (Atlanta); third-place playoff on 19 July in Miami.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 — the largest edition in the tournament's history — kicks off on 12 June 2026 (IST) and runs through to the final on 20 July 2026, featuring a record 48 teams and 104 matches spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For Indian football fans, most matches will air through the night and into early morning hours, making IST scheduling essential.
The New Format Explained
The expanded 2026 edition introduces 12 groups of four teams each, replacing the previous eight-group structure. The top two sides from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout rounds. A newly introduced Round of 32 precedes the traditional Round of 16, extending the tournament's breadth significantly.
The 12 Groups at a Glance
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Complete Group-Stage Fixtures in IST
Friday, 12 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa — 12:30 AM IST — Mexico City
Group A: South Korea vs Czechia — 7:30 AM IST — Zapopan
Saturday, 13 June
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 12:30 AM IST — Toronto
Group D: USA vs Paraguay — 6:30 AM IST — Los Angeles
Sunday, 14 June
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland — 12:30 AM IST — Santa Clara
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco — 3:30 AM IST — New Jersey
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland — 6:30 AM IST — Foxborough
Group D: Australia vs Turkey — 9:30 AM IST — Vancouver
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao — 10:30 PM IST — Houston
Monday, 15 June
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan — 1:30 AM IST — Arlington
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — 4:30 AM IST — Philadelphia
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia — 7:30 AM IST — Guadalajara
Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde — 9:30 PM IST — Atlanta
Tuesday, 16 June
Group G: Belgium vs Egypt — 12:30 AM IST — Seattle
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — 3:30 AM IST — Miami
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand — 6:30 AM IST — Los Angeles
Wednesday, 17 June
Group I: France vs Senegal — 12:30 AM IST — New Jersey
Group I: Iraq vs Norway — 3:30 AM IST — Foxborough
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria — 6:30 AM IST — Kansas City
Group J: Austria vs Jordan — 9:30 AM IST — Santa Clara
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo — 10:30 PM IST — Houston
Thursday, 18 June
Group L: England vs Croatia — 1:30 AM IST — Arlington
Group L: Ghana vs Panama — 4:30 AM IST — Toronto
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia — 7:30 AM IST — Mexico City
Group A: Czechia vs South Africa — 9:30 PM IST — Atlanta
Friday, 19 June
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 12:30 AM IST — Los Angeles
Group B: Canada vs Qatar — 3:30 AM IST — Vancouver
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea — 6:30 AM IST — Zapopan
Saturday, 20 June
Group D: USA vs Australia — 12:30 AM IST — Seattle
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco — 3:30 AM IST — Foxborough
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti — 6:00 AM IST — Philadelphia
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay — 8:30 AM IST — Santa Clara
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden — 10:30 PM IST — Houston
Sunday, 21 June
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast — 1:30 AM IST — Toronto
Group E: Ecuador vs Curaçao — 5:30 AM IST — Kansas City
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan — 9:30 AM IST — Guadalajara
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia — 9:30 PM IST — Atlanta
Monday, 22 June
Group G: Belgium vs Iran — 12:30 AM IST — Los Angeles
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde — 3:30 AM IST — Miami
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt — 6:30 AM IST — Vancouver
Group J: Argentina vs Austria — 10:30 PM IST — Arlington
Tuesday, 23 June
Group I: France vs Iraq — 2:30 AM IST — Philadelphia
Group I: Norway vs Senegal — 5:30 AM IST — Toronto
Group J: Jordan vs Algeria — 8:30 AM IST — Santa Clara
Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan — 10:30 PM IST — Houston
Wednesday, 24 June
Group L: England vs Ghana — 1:30 AM IST — Foxborough
Group L: Panama vs Croatia — 4:30 AM IST — Foxborough
Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo — 7:30 AM IST — Zapopan
Thursday, 25 June
Group B: Switzerland vs Canada — 12:30 AM IST — Vancouver
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar — 12:30 AM IST — Seattle
Group C: Morocco vs Haiti — 3:30 AM IST — Atlanta
Group C: Scotland vs Brazil — 3:30 AM IST — Miami
Group A: South Africa vs South Korea — 6:30 AM IST — Guadalajara
Group A: Czechia vs Mexico — 6:30 AM IST — Mexico City
Friday, 26 June
Group E: Curaçao vs Ivory Coast — 1:30 AM IST — Philadelphia
Group E: Ecuador vs Germany — 1:30 AM IST — New Jersey
Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands — 4:30 AM IST — Kansas City
Group F: Japan vs Sweden — 4:30 AM IST — Arlington
Group D: Turkey vs USA — 7:30 AM IST — Los Angeles
Group D: Paraguay vs Australia — 7:30 AM IST — Santa Clara
Saturday, 27 June
Group I: Norway vs France — 12:30 AM IST — Foxborough
Group I: Senegal vs Iraq — 12:30 AM IST — Toronto
Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — 5:30 AM IST — Houston
Group H: Uruguay vs Spain — 5:30 AM IST — Zapopan
Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium — 8:30 AM IST — Vancouver
Group G: Egypt vs Iran — 8:30 AM IST — Seattle
Sunday, 28 June
Group L: Panama vs England — 2:30 AM IST — New Jersey
Group L: Croatia vs Ghana — 2:30 AM IST — Philadelphia
Group K: Colombia vs Portugal — 5:00 AM IST — Miami
Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — 5:00 AM IST — Atlanta
Group J: Algeria vs Austria — 7:30 AM IST — Kansas City
Group J: Jordan vs Argentina — 7:30 AM IST — Arlington
Knockout Stage and Final: Key Dates
The group stage wraps up on 28 June, after which the newly introduced Round of 32 runs from 29 June to 4 July. The Round of 16 follows from 4 to 8 July, and the quarterfinals are scheduled from 10 to 12 July. The two semifinals take place on 15 July (Arlington) and 16 July (Atlanta). The third-place playoff is set for 19 July in Miami, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 final to be played on 20 July at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
Point of View
And it is driven as much by commercial logic as sporting merit. Adding a Round of 32 means 40 extra matches — and 40 extra broadcast windows — but it also means more dead-rubber group games and a higher chance that third-placed sides with negative goal differences reach the last 32. For Indian fans, the schedule is punishing: the majority of fixtures fall between midnight and 9 AM IST, which will test broadcaster reach and live viewership numbers. Whether the expanded format elevates the tournament or dilutes it will be the defining debate of this edition.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does FIFA World Cup 2026 start and end in Indian time?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on 12 June 2026 at 12:30 AM IST with Mexico vs South Africa in Mexico City and concludes with the final on 20 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
How many teams and matches are in FIFA World Cup 2026?
A record 48 teams will participate, playing 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the largest field in World Cup history.
What is the new format for FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 edition uses 12 groups of four teams. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed sides advance to a newly introduced Round of 32, which precedes the traditional Round of 16.
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final being held?
The final is scheduled for 20 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
What time do most FIFA World Cup 2026 matches kick off in India?
Most group-stage matches are scheduled between 12:30 AM IST and 9:30 AM IST, with a few evening kickoffs around 9:30 PM or 10:30 PM IST, meaning Indian fans will largely need to stay up through the night or wake in the early hours to watch live.
