FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule — Full Fixtures & PKT Times
Last Updated: May 2026 | Source: Official FIFA schedule confirmed December 6, 2025 | Reading time: ~8 min
Paksinfo.com — FIFA World Cup 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026: Full Match Schedule & Fixtures
June 11 – July 19, 2026104 Matches48 Teams16 StadiumsPKT Times Included
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. There are 104 matches in total across 39 days — the most in World Cup history. Mexico vs South Africa is the opening match on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The final takes place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For Pakistani fans, most matches kick off between midnight and 9:00 AM PKT due to the North American time difference.
This is the biggest FIFA World Cup in history. For the first time, 48 teams compete instead of 32, spread across 12 groups in three countries. A brand-new Round of 32 has been added to the knockout stage, meaning more teams go through and more matches are played before a champion is crowned. Every team still plays three group stage matches. The full schedule was officially confirmed on December 6, 2025, according to FIFA, the day after the group draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
104
Total Matches
48
Teams
12
Groups
16
Stadiums
39
Days
3
Host Nations
Match Times in Pakistan (PKT)
Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) is 9 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET). This means most World Cup 2026 matches will air during late night or early morning hours in Pakistan. For a full channel-by-channel guide on where to watch every match live in Pakistan, see our how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in Pakistan guide. [USER NOTE: activate link when page is live]
Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) — Quick Conversion from US Eastern Time (ET)
9:00 AM ET7:00 PM PKT (same day)
12:00 PM ET (noon)10:00 PM PKT (same day)
1:00 PM ET11:00 PM PKT (same day)
3:00 PM ET1:00 AM PKT (next day)
6:00 PM ET4:00 AM PKT (next day)
9:00 PM ET7:00 AM PKT (next day)
10:00 PM ET8:00 AM PKT (next day)
In practice, Pakistani fans watching on football coverage find that matches in the 3:00 PM–6:00 PM ET window are the hardest to catch live, falling at 1:00 AM–4:00 AM PKT. Big matches like France vs Senegal and Argentina vs Algeria fall in exactly these slots. Setting a phone alarm the night before is the most reliable method.
Full Tournament Schedule — Key Dates
June 11, 2026 — Opening Match
Mexico vs South Africa — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — 3:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM PKT (June 12)
June 11–27, 2026 — Group Stage
72 matches across all 12 groups. Up to six matches per day. See the group draw and full groups A–L. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
June 28 – July 4, 2026 — Round of 32
16 matches. Top two from each group advance automatically. The eight best third-placed teams also qualify. This round is new to the World Cup in 2026.
July 5–8, 2026 — Round of 16
8 matches. Single elimination. Extra time and penalties if level after 90 minutes.
July 10–11, 2026 — Quarter-finals
4 matches. All played at US venues, according to the official FIFA schedule.
July 14–15, 2026 — Semi-finals
2 matches. Dallas (AT&T Stadium) and New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).
July 18, 2026 — Third Place Play-off
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
July 19, 2026 — World Cup Final
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey — approximately 3:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM PKT (July 20). Check the host stadiums guide for full venue details. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
All 12 Groups — Teams & Venues
The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. The full group draw took place on December 5, 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., according to FIFA. See the complete list of all 48 qualified teams and the group draw breakdown for detailed analysis of each group. [USER NOTE: activate links when live]
A
Group A
Mexico City · Guadalajara · Monterrey · Atlanta
1
Mexico HOST
2
South Africa
3
South Korea
4
Czechia
B
Group B
Toronto · Vancouver · San Francisco
1
Canada HOST
2
Bosnia & Herzegovina
3
Qatar
4
Switzerland
C
Group C
New York/NJ · Boston
1
Brazil
2
Morocco
3
Haiti
4
Scotland
D
Group D
Los Angeles · Seattle · San Francisco
1
USA HOST
2
Paraguay
3
Australia
4
Türkiye
E
Group E
Houston · Philadelphia · Kansas City · Toronto
1
Germany
2
Curaçao
3
Ivory Coast
4
Ecuador
F
Group F
Monterrey · Dallas · Miami · Boston
1
Spain
2
Tunisia
3
Japan
4
Sweden
G
Group G
Seattle · Los Angeles · Atlanta
1
Belgium
2
Egypt
3
Iran
4
New Zealand
H
Group H
Atlanta · Miami · Guadalajara
1
Spain
2
Cape Verde
3
Saudi Arabia
4
Uruguay
I
Group I — Group of Death
New York/NJ · Boston · Kansas City
1
France TOP PICK
2
Senegal
3
Norway
4
Iraq
J
Group J
Kansas City · San Francisco · Miami
1
Argentina
2
Algeria
3
Austria
4
Jordan
K
Group K
Houston · Mexico City · Vancouver
1
Portugal
2
DR Congo
3
Uzbekistan
4
Colombia
L
Group L
Dallas · Toronto · Philadelphia
1
England
2
Croatia
3
Ghana
4
Panama
Opening Week Fixtures — Group Stage (June 11–17)
All times shown in US Eastern Time (ET) and Pakistan Standard Time (PKT). All fixtures confirmed from ESPN and official FIFA sources (December 6, 2025). For full team-by-team details, see the 48 qualified teams guide. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
Thursday, June 11
Group A
Mexico
vs
South Africa
3 PM ET 1 AM PKT (Jun 12)
Group A
South Korea
vs
Czechia
10 PM ET 8 AM PKT (Jun 12)
Friday, June 12
Group B
Canada
vs
Bosnia & Herz.
3 PM ET 1 AM PKT (Jun 13)
Group D
USA
vs
Paraguay
9 PM ET 7 AM PKT (Jun 13)
Saturday, June 13
Group B
Qatar
vs
Switzerland
3 PM ET 1 AM PKT (Jun 14)
Group C
Brazil
vs
Morocco
6 PM ET 4 AM PKT (Jun 14)
Group C
Haiti
vs
Scotland
9 PM ET 7 AM PKT (Jun 14)
Sunday, June 14
Group E
Germany
vs
Curaçao
1 PM ET 11 PM PKT
Group E
Ivory Coast
vs
Ecuador
7 PM ET 5 AM PKT (Jun 15)
Monday, June 15
Group H
Spain
vs
Cape Verde
1 PM ET 11 PM PKT
Group G
Belgium
vs
Egypt
6 PM ET 4 AM PKT (Jun 16)
Group H
Saudi Arabia
vs
Uruguay
6 PM ET 4 AM PKT (Jun 16)
Group G
Iran
vs
New Zealand
9 PM ET 7 AM PKT (Jun 16)
Tuesday, June 16
Group I
France
vs
Senegal
3 PM ET 1 AM PKT (Jun 17)
Group I
Iraq
vs
Norway
6 PM ET 4 AM PKT (Jun 17)
Group J
Argentina
vs
Algeria
9 PM ET 7 AM PKT (Jun 17)
Wednesday, June 17
Group K
Portugal
vs
DR Congo
1 PM ET 11 PM PKT
Group L
England
vs
Croatia
4 PM ET 2 AM PKT (Jun 18)
Group L
Ghana
vs
Panama
7 PM ET 5 AM PKT (Jun 18)
Group K
Uzbekistan
vs
Colombia
10 PM ET 8 AM PKT (Jun 18)
Group stage continues through June 27. Each team plays three matches — one against every team in their group. Final matchday games in each group kick off simultaneously to ensure fairness.
Knockout Stage Schedule
All knockout matches from the quarter-finals onward are played in the United States only, according to the official FIFA schedule. AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas hosts the most matches of any venue at nine total. For full details on all 16 host stadiums and venues, including capacities and cities, see our complete stadiums guide. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
Round
Dates
Matches
Venue Region
Final PKT (approx.)
Round of 32
June 28–July 4
16
All 16 venues
Varies 11 PM–8 AM PKT
Round of 16
July 5–8
8
USA only
Varies 11 PM–8 AM PKT
Quarter-finals
July 10–11
4
USA only
Varies 1 AM–7 AM PKT
Semi-finals
July 14–15
2
Dallas · New York/NJ
Approx. 1 AM–4 AM PKT
3rd Place
July 18
1
MetLife Stadium, NJ
Approx. 1 AM PKT (Jul 19)
Final
July 19
1
MetLife Stadium, NJ
Approx. 1 AM PKT (Jul 20)
How to Watch in Pakistan
For the complete channel list, streaming options, and cable package guide, see the full how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in Pakistan guide. [USER NOTE: activate link when live] Below is a quick overview of your main options.
PTV Sports
Pakistan’s national sports channel. Free-to-air on most cable packages. Expected to broadcast selected matches live.
ARY Sports / Ten Sports
Both channels have previously covered FIFA tournaments in Pakistan. Confirm broadcast rights before June 11.
FIFA+
Official free platform at plus.fifa.com. Highlights, replays, and select live matches. No VPN needed in Pakistan.
VPN Streaming
Telemundo and Peacock (US) stream all 104 matches. FOX Sports (US) covers 70 matches. A US-based VPN gives access.
What the New 48-Team Format Means for the Schedule
The new Round of 32 is the biggest format change to the FIFA World Cup since 1998. In every edition from 1998 to 2022, only 16 teams advanced from the group stage. In 2026, 32 teams advance. The top two from each of the 12 groups qualify automatically. The eight best third-placed teams across all groups also go through, ranked by points first, then goal difference, then goals scored.
This means finishing third in your group no longer guarantees elimination. A third-place team with a strong record can still reach the knockout stage. For predictions on who will win and which dark horses could benefit from this format, see the predictions guide. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
FIFA also introduced two separate bracket pathways to the semi-finals. Spain (ranked 1st) and Argentina (ranked 2nd) are on opposite sides of the bracket. France (3rd) and England (4th) are also on opposite sides. These four teams cannot meet before the semi-finals, confirmed in the December 5, 2025 draw results published by FIFA.
What to Do If You Have Problems
I cannot find the PKT time for a specific match.
Add 9 hours to the US Eastern Time (ET) listed for the match. A 3:00 PM ET kick-off becomes 12:00 AM midnight PKT the next calendar day. A 6:00 PM ET kick-off becomes 3:00 AM PKT. For the official ET times of every match, visit fifa.com scores and fixtures.
The schedule I found elsewhere shows different times.
Only the official FIFA website at fifa.com is confirmed as the authoritative source for kick-off times. Some third-party sites show local city times rather than ET, which can cause confusion. Always check the timezone label on any schedule you find. This article uses ET throughout with PKT conversions added.
My team finished third in the group. When do they play in the Round of 32?
The eight best third-placed teams are identified only after all 12 groups finish on June 27. Their Round of 32 opponents are then confirmed. Most Round of 32 matches take place June 28–30. Check the FIFA World Cup hub from June 27 onwards for confirmed fixtures once your team qualifies.
I cannot find any live broadcast of a match in Pakistan.
If a match is not airing on PTV Sports or ARY Sports, FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com offers free highlights and replays immediately after each match. For live access to all 104 matches, a VPN set to a US server gives access to Telemundo’s full free stream. See the full how to watch guide for step-by-step instructions. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start and end?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It ends on July 19, 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The tournament runs for 39 days across 104 matches.
What time do World Cup 2026 matches start in Pakistan?
Pakistan (PKT) is 9 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. Most group stage matches air between midnight and 9:00 AM PKT. A 1:00 PM ET match starts at 11:00 PM PKT the same evening. A 9:00 PM ET match starts at 7:00 AM PKT the next morning. Big matches like Argentina vs Algeria and France vs Senegal fall in the early morning hours for Pakistani viewers.
How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?
There are 104 matches in total — 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout rounds. This is up from 64 matches in the 2022 World Cup because the tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams. The additional matches come from the new Round of 32, which did not exist in previous editions.
Which is the hardest group in World Cup 2026?
Group I — with France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq — is widely considered the most difficult group. France are ranked 3rd in the world, Senegal won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, and Norway are one of Europe’s most in-form sides. At least one of France or Senegal will not make it past the group stage. See the full group draw analysis for a breakdown of every group. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
Where is the World Cup 2026 final?
The final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026. Kick-off is approximately 3:00 PM ET, which is 1:00 AM PKT on July 20. MetLife Stadium has a capacity of over 82,000. See the host stadiums guide for details on all 16 venues. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
Can I watch the World Cup 2026 for free in Pakistan?
FIFA+ at plus.fifa.com is free and available in Pakistan without a VPN, offering highlights and replays after every match. PTV Sports is free-to-air on most Pakistani cable networks. For full live coverage of all 104 matches, confirm which broadcaster holds the official Pakistan rights before June 2026. The complete channel guide is in the how to watch in Pakistan article. [USER NOTE: activate link when live]
What happens if a group stage match ends in a draw?
A draw in the group stage gives both teams one point each. There is no extra time or penalties in the group stage. If teams are equal on points, tiebreakers are applied in this order: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head result, fair play record, and finally a draw of lots if all criteria are still equal.
Check fifa.com/scores-fixtures for the latest confirmed schedule updates. The group stage starts June 11 — the opening match (Mexico vs South Africa) airs at 1:00 AM PKT on June 12. Return to the FIFA World Cup hub for all 2026 coverage including teams, stadiums, predictions, and prize money guides.
