When does FIFA World Cup 2026 start? Full schedule, groups, IST timings and how to watch in India, Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar's last dance

The pinnacle of global football returns as the FIFA World Cup 2026 prepares for kickoff across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The action begins at midnight on June 11, 2026, with co-hosts Mexico competing against South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This expanded edition features 104 matches distributed across 16 iconic North American cities, culminating in the championship final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

A total of 52 teams are organized into 12 distinct competitive pools of four teams each, setting the stage for a dramatic group stage campaign.

Official Tournament Groupings
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, Türkiye
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
The top two nations from each pool, alongside the eight most successful third-placed configurations, will progress directly into the knockouts starting with the Round of 32. From that juncture onward, the global tournament functions under a straight elimination framework. Defending world champions Argentina are placed in Group J, as their iconic 38-year-old captain Lionel Messi aims to spearhead another deep championship run.

Complete FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule (Indian Standard Time)
Date (IST) Time (IST) Match Fixture Venue Location
June 12, Friday 12:30 AM Mexico vs South Africa Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 12, Friday 7:30 AM South Korea vs Czechia Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 13, Saturday 12:30 AM Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina BMO Field, Toronto
June 13, Saturday 6:30 AM USA vs Paraguay SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 14, Sunday 12:30 AM Qatar vs Switzerland Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
June 14, Sunday 3:30 AM Brazil vs Morocco MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
June 14, Sunday 6:30 AM Haiti vs Scotland Gillette Stadium, Boston
June 14, Sunday 9:30 AM Australia vs Türkiye BC Place, Vancouver
June 14, Sunday 10:30 PM Germany vs Curaçao NRG Stadium, Houston
June 15, Monday 1:30 AM Netherlands vs Japan AT&T Stadium, Dallas
June 15, Monday 4:30 AM Ivory Coast vs Ecuador Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 15, Monday 7:30 AM Sweden vs Tunisia Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
June 15, Monday 9:30 PM Spain vs Cape Verde Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 16, Tuesday 12:30 AM Belgium vs Egypt Lumen Field, Seattle
June 16, Tuesday 3:30 AM Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 16, Tuesday 6:30 AM Iran vs New Zealand SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 17, Wednesday 12:30 AM France vs Senegal MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
June 17, Wednesday 3:30 AM Iraq vs Norway Gillette Stadium, Boston
June 17, Wednesday 6:30 AM Argentina vs Algeria Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
June 17, Wednesday 9:30 AM Austria vs Jordan Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
June 17, Wednesday 10:30 PM Portugal vs DR Congo NRG Stadium, Houston
June 18, Thursday 1:30 AM England vs Croatia AT&T Stadium, Dallas
June 18, Thursday 4:30 AM Ghana vs Panama BMO Field, Toronto
June 18, Thursday 7:30 AM Uzbekistan vs Colombia Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 18, Thursday 9:30 PM Czechia vs South Africa Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 19, Friday 12:30 AM Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 19, Friday 3:30 AM Canada vs Qatar BC Place, Vancouver
June 19, Friday 6:30 AM Mexico vs South Korea Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 20, Saturday 12:30 AM USA vs Australia Lumen Field, Seattle
June 20, Saturday 3:30 AM Scotland vs Morocco Gillette Stadium, Boston
June 20, Saturday 6:30 AM Brazil vs Haiti Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 20, Saturday 9:30 AM Türkiye vs Paraguay Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
June 20, Saturday 10:30 PM Netherlands vs Sweden NRG Stadium, Houston
June 21, Sunday 1:30 AM Germany vs Ivory Coast BMO Field, Toronto
June 21, Sunday 5:30 AM Ecuador vs Curaçao Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
June 21, Sunday 9:30 AM Tunisia vs Japan Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
June 21, Sunday 9:30 PM Spain vs Saudi Arabia Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 22, Monday 12:30 AM Belgium vs Iran SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 22, Monday 3:30 AM Uruguay vs Cape Verde Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 22, Monday 6:30 AM New Zealand vs Egypt BC Place, Vancouver
June 22, Monday 10:30 PM Argentina vs Austria AT&T Stadium, Dallas
June 23, Tuesday 2:30 AM France vs Iraq Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 23, Tuesday 5:30 AM Norway vs Senegal MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
June 23, Tuesday 8:30 AM Jordan vs Algeria Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
June 23, Tuesday 10:30 PM Portugal vs Uzbekistan NRG Stadium, Houston
June 24, Wednesday 1:30 AM England vs Ghana Gillette Stadium, Boston
June 24, Wednesday 4:30 AM Panama vs Croatia BMO Field, Toronto
June 24, Wednesday 7:30 AM Colombia vs DR Congo Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 25, Thursday 12:30 AM Switzerland vs Canada BC Place, Vancouver
June 25, Thursday 12:30 AM Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar Lumen Field, Seattle
June 25, Thursday 3:30 AM Scotland vs Brazil Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 25, Thursday 3:30 AM Morocco vs Haiti Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 25, Thursday 6:30 AM Czechia vs Mexico Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 25, Thursday 6:30 AM South Africa vs South Korea Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
June 26, Friday 1:30 AM Ecuador vs Germany MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
June 26, Friday 1:30 AM Curaçao vs Ivory Coast Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 26, Friday 4:30 AM Japan vs Sweden AT&T Stadium, Dallas
June 26, Friday 4:30 AM Tunisia vs Netherlands Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
June 26, Friday 7:30 AM Türkiye vs USA SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 26, Friday 7:30 AM Paraguay vs Australia Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
June 27, Saturday 12:30 AM Norway vs France Gillette Stadium, Boston
June 27, Saturday 12:30 AM Senegal vs Iraq BMO Field, Toronto
June 27, Saturday 5:30 AM Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia NRG Stadium, Houston
June 27, Saturday 5:30 AM Uruguay vs Spain Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 27, Saturday 8:30 AM Egypt vs Iran Lumen Field, Seattle
June 27, Saturday 8:30 AM New Zealand vs Belgium BC Place, Vancouver
June 28, Sunday 2:30 AM Panama vs England MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
June 28, Sunday 2:30 AM Croatia vs Ghana Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
June 28, Sunday 5:00 AM Colombia vs Portugal Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
June 28, Sunday 5:00 AM DR Congo vs Uzbekistan Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
June 28, Sunday 7:30 AM Algeria vs Austria Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
June 28, Sunday 7:30 AM Jordan vs Argentina AT&T Stadium, Dallas

Broadcaster Guide and Distribution Operations
Indian sports viewers can track all live coverage on television networks through Z’s Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD channels. Digital coverage and high-definition live streaming will be accessible through the Zee5 app along with its official desktop portal across the country.

You can watch FIFA 2026 on Zee’s new Unite8 Sports network (Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD). Multiple group-stage matches that will take place simultaneously will be aired across the four channels with English and Hindi feeds. All games will also be streamed live on the Zee5 app and website.