FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: India match timings, Dates, IST Times, Venues
Hosts Mexico will take on South Africa in a repeat of 2010 opening encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026, president Gianni Infantino announced during the unveiling of the complete schedule in Washington, D.C on Saturday. A day before, FIFA announced the World Cup draw.
For the first time in the history of the tournament, 48 teams will be vying for the ultimate silverware. The FIFA World Cup started in 1930 with just 13 teams. It was expanded to 24 teams in 1982 and then to 32 in 1998, thus allowing more teams from Africa, Asia and North America.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico, will start on June 11 with the final to be played on July 19. 16 cities around three countries will host the entire tournament. Notably, Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will make their FIFA World Cup debuts. Argentina are the defending champions.
When and where will the FIFA World Cup 2026 take place?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be staged in 16 host cities in North America, with each country providing venues for various stages of the tournament. Here is the official list of venues:
United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle
Canada: Toronto, Vancouver
Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey
The schedule is mentioned below:
Group stage: 11 June – 27 June, 2026
Round of 32: 28 June – 3 July, 2026
Round of 16: 4 July – 7 July, 2026
Quarterfinals: 9 July – 11 July, 2026
Semifinals: 14 July – 15 July, 2026
Third-place play-off: 18 July, 2026
Final: 19 July, 2026
The final match will be played at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and will offer one of the most luxurious matchday experiences the tournament has ever featured.
World Cup Match timings in India: FIFA World Cup 2026 India match timings
As far as India is concerned, football fans will have to plan their schedules judiciously, as they can enjoy the matches either early in the morning or late at night. In India, matches will begin at 12:30 AM IST, followed by other timings at 1:30 AM IST, 3:30 AM IST, 4:30 AM IST, 6:30 AM IST, and 7:30 AM IST.
Yes, most of the matches will be either late at night or early in the morning, but some contests can be enjoyed a bit earlier, as they will begin at 10:30 PM IST, which is more viewer-friendly for India. These matches will also include contests like Argentina vs Austria and Portugal vs Uzbekistan. For die-hard football fans, it will mean staying up late, as there isn’t much to watch during prime time.
Friday, June 12 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Mexico vs South Africa — Estadio Banorte, Mexico City — TV TBA
Friday, June 12 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Korea Republic vs Czech Republic — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara — TV TBA
Saturday, June 13 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — BMO Field, Toronto — TV TBA
Saturday, June 13 — 6:30 AM (IST) — USA vs Paraguay — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — TV TBA
Sunday, June 14 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Qatar vs Switzerland — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara — TV TBA
Sunday, June 14 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Brazil vs Morocco — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford — TV TBA
Sunday, June 14 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Haiti vs Scotland — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough — TV TBA
Sunday, June 14 — 9:30 AM (IST) — Australia vs Türkiye — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Sunday, June 14 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Germany vs Curacao — NRG Stadium, Houston — TV TBA
Monday, June 15 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Netherlands vs Japan — AT&T Stadium, Arlington — TV TBA
Monday, June 15 — 4:30 AM (IST) — Côte d'Ivoire vs Ecuador — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia — TV TBA
Monday, June 15 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Sweden vs Tunisia — Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe — TV TBA
Monday, June 15 — 9:30 PM (IST) — Spain vs Cabo Verde — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 16 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Belgium vs Egypt — Lumen Field, Seattle — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 16 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 16 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Iran vs New Zealand — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 17 — 12:30 AM (IST) — France vs Senegal — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 17 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Iraq vs Norway — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 17 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Argentina vs Algeria — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 17 — 9:30 AM (IST) — Austria vs Jordan — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 17 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Portugal vs DR Congo — NRG Stadium, Houston — TV TBA
Thursday, June 18 — 1:30 AM (IST) — England vs Croatia — AT&T Stadium, Arlington — TV TBA
Thursday, June 18 — 4:30 AM (IST) — Ghana vs Panama — BMO Field, Toronto — TV TBA
Thursday, June 18 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Uzbekistan vs Colombia — Estadio Banorte, Mexico City — TV TBA
Thursday, June 18 — 9:30 PM (IST) — Czech Republic vs South Africa — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — TV TBA
Friday, June 19 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — TV TBA
Friday, June 19 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Canada vs Qatar — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Friday, June 19 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Mexico vs Korea Republic — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara — TV TBA
Saturday, June 20 — 12:30 AM (IST) — USA vs Australia — Lumen Field, Seattle — TV TBA
Saturday, June 20 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Scotland vs Morocco — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough — TV TBA
Saturday, June 20 — 6:00 AM (IST) — Brazil vs Haiti — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia — TV TBA
Saturday, June 20 — 8:30 AM (IST) — Türkiye vs Paraguay — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara — TV TBA
Saturday, June 20 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Netherlands vs Sweden — NRG Stadium, Houston — TV TBA
Sunday, June 21 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Germany vs Côte d'Ivoire — BMO Field, Toronto — TV TBA
Sunday, June 21 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Ecuador vs Curacao — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City — TV TBA
Sunday, June 21 — 9:30 AM (IST) — Tunisia vs Japan — Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe — TV TBA
Sunday, June 21 — 9:30 PM (IST) — Spain vs Saudi Arabia — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — TV TBA
Monday, June 22 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Belgium vs Iran — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — TV TBA
Monday, June 22 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Uruguay vs Cabo Verde — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — TV TBA
Monday, June 22 — 6:30 AM (IST) — New Zealand vs Egypt — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Monday, June 22 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Argentina vs Austria — AT&T Stadium, Arlington — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 23 — 2:30 AM (IST) — France vs Iraq — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 23 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Norway vs Senegal — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 23 — 8:30 AM (IST) — Jordan vs Algeria — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 23 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Portugal vs Uzbekistan — NRG Stadium, Houston — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 24 — 1:30 AM (IST) — England vs Ghana — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 24 — 4:30 AM (IST) — Panama vs Croatia — BMO Field, Toronto — TV TBA
Wednesday, June 24 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Colombia vs DR Congo — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara — TV TBA
Thursday, June 25 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Switzerland vs Canada — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Thursday, June 25 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar — Lumen Field, Seattle — TV TBA
Thursday, June 25 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Scotland vs Brazil — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — TV TBA
Thursday, June 25 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Morocco vs Haiti — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — TV TBA
Thursday, June 25 — 6:30 AM (IST) — South Africa vs Korea Republic — Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe — TV TBA
Thursday, June 25 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Czech Republic vs Mexico — Estadio Banorte, Mexico City — TV TBA
Friday, June 26 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Curacao vs Côte d'Ivoire — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia — TV TBA
Friday, June 26 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Ecuador vs Germany — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford — TV TBA
Friday, June 26 — 4:30 AM (IST) — Tunisia vs Netherlands — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City — TV TBA
Friday, June 26 — 4:30 AM (IST) — Japan vs Sweden — AT&T Stadium, Arlington — TV TBA
Friday, June 26 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Türkiye vs USA — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — TV TBA
Friday, June 26 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Paraguay vs Australia — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara — TV TBA
Saturday, June 27 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Norway vs France — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough — TV TBA
Saturday, June 27 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Senegal vs Iraq — BMO Field, Toronto — TV TBA
Saturday, June 27 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — NRG Stadium, Houston — TV TBA
Saturday, June 27 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Uruguay vs Spain — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara — TV TBA
Saturday, June 27 — 8:30 AM (IST) — Egypt vs Iran — Lumen Field, Seattle — TV TBA
Saturday, June 27 — 8:30 AM (IST) — New Zealand vs Belgium — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Sunday, June 28 — 2:30 AM (IST) — Croatia vs Ghana — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia — TV TBA
Sunday, June 28 — 2:30 AM (IST) — Panama vs England — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford — TV TBA
Sunday, June 28 — 5:00 AM (IST) — Colombia vs Portugal — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — TV TBA
Sunday, June 28 — 5:00 AM (IST) — DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — TV TBA
Sunday, June 28 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Jordan vs Argentina — AT&T Stadium, Arlington — TV TBA
Sunday, June 28 — 7:30 AM (IST) — Algeria vs Austria — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City — TV TBA
Monday, June 29 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Group A Second Place vs Group B Second Place — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California — TV TBA
Monday, June 29 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Group C Winner vs Group F Second Place — NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 30 — 2:00 AM (IST) — Group E Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group A/B/C/D/F) — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 30 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Group F Winner vs Group C Second Place — Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe — TV TBA
Tuesday, June 30 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Group E Second Place vs Group I Second Place — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas — TV TBA
Wednesday, July 1 — 2:30 AM (IST) — Group I Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group C/D/F/G/H) — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey — TV TBA
Wednesday, July 1 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Group A Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group C/E/F/H/I) — Estadio Banorte, Mexico City — TV TBA
Wednesday, July 1 — 9:30 PM (IST) — Group L Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group E/H/I/J/K) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia — TV TBA
Thursday, July 2 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Group G Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group A/E/H/I/J) — Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington — TV TBA
Thursday, July 2 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Group D Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group B/E/F/I/J) — Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California — TV TBA
Friday, July 3 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Group H Winner vs Group J Second Place — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California — TV TBA
Friday, July 3 — 4:30 AM (IST) — Group K Second Place vs Group L Second Place — BMO Field, Toronto — TV TBA
Friday, July 3 — 8:30 AM (IST) — Group B Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group E/F/G/I/J) — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Friday, July 3 — 11:30 PM (IST) — Group D Second Place vs Group G Second Place — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas — TV TBA
Saturday, July 4 — 3:30 AM (IST) — Group J Winner vs Group H Second Place — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida — TV TBA
Saturday, July 4 — 7:00 AM (IST) — Group K Winner vs Best Third-Place Team (Group D/E/I/J/L) — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri — TV TBA
Saturday, July 4 — 10:30 PM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 1 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 3 Winner — NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas — TV TBA
Sunday, July 5 — 2:30 AM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 2 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 5 Winner — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — TV TBA
Monday, July 6 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 4 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 6 Winner — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey — TV TBA
Monday, July 6 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 7 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 8 Winner — Estadio Banorte, Mexico City — TV TBA
Tuesday, July 7 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 11 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 12 Winner — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas — TV TBA
Tuesday, July 7 — 5:30 AM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 9 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 10 Winner — Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington — TV TBA
Tuesday, July 7 — 9:30 PM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 14 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 16 Winner — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia — TV TBA
Wednesday, July 8 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Round of 32 Match 13 Winner vs Round of 32 Match 15 Winner — BC Place, Vancouver — TV TBA
Friday, July 10 — 1:30 AM (IST) — Round of 16 Match 1 Winner vs Round of 16 Match 2 Winner — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts — TV TBA
Saturday, July 11 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Round of 16 Match 5 Winner vs Round of 16 Match 6 Winner — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California — TV TBA
Sunday, July 12 — 2:30 AM (IST) — Round of 16 Match 3 Winner vs Round of 16 Match 4 Winner — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida — TV TBA
Sunday, July 12 — 6:30 AM (IST) — Round of 16 Match 7 Winner vs Round of 16 Match 8 Winner — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri — TV TBA
Wednesday, July 15 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Quarter-final 1 Winner vs Quarter-final 2 Winner — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas — TV TBA
Thursday, July 16 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Quarter-final 3 Winner vs Quarter-final 4 Winner — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia — TV TBA
Sunday, July 19 — 2:30 AM (IST) — Semi-final 1 Loser vs Semi-final 2 Loser — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida — TV TBA
Monday, July 20 — 12:30 AM (IST) — Semi-final 1 Winner vs Semi-final 2 Winner — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey — TV TBA
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