World Cup 2026: Full Fixture Schedule, UK Kick-Off Times and Key Dates for the 48-Team Tournament
Tournament Overview: 104 Matches Across 37 Days
The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets under way on Thursday 11 June when Mexico host South Africa in Mexico City, marking the first match of a 37-day, 104-match tournament spread across three host nations — Mexico, the United States and Canada. The competition concludes on Sunday 19 July with the final staged at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For UK viewers, Sky Sports News will broadcast a dedicated World Cup Breakfast programme from 7am to 10am every matchday throughout the tournament.
This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, an expansion from the previous 32-team format, which introduces a Round of 32 as an additional knockout stage before the traditional Round of 16. With all 48 nations now confirmed and the draw complete, the full schedule is set — and for fans of both England and Scotland, the fixture list makes for particularly interesting reading.
Key Tournament Dates
The competition is divided into the following phases, with all times listed in UK time throughout this guide:
- Group stage: 11–27 June
- Round of 32: 28 June – 3 July
- Round of 16: 4–7 July
- Quarter-finals: 9–11 July
- Semi-finals: 14–15 July
- Third-place play-off: 18 July
- Final: 19 July, MetLife Stadium
Opening Weekend Fixtures and UK Kick-Off Times
The opening days of the group stage feature a demanding schedule for UK viewers, with several fixtures requiring early-hours viewing. Below is the day-by-day breakdown covering the first week of action:
Thursday 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa — 8pm, Mexico City
Friday 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic — 3am, Zapopan, Mexico
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina — 8pm, Toronto, Canada
Saturday 13 June
Group D: USA vs Paraguay — 2am, Los Angeles
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland — 8pm, Santa Clara, USA
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco — 11pm, New Jersey, USA
Sunday 14 June
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland — 2am, Foxborough (Boston), USA
Group D: Australia vs Turkey — 5am, Vancouver, Canada
Group E: Germany vs Curacao — 6pm, Houston, USA
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan — 9pm, Arlington, USA
Monday 15 June
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — 12am, Philadelphia, USA
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia — 3am, Guadalupe, Mexico
Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde — 5pm, Atlanta, USA
Group G: Belgium vs Egypt — 8pm, Seattle, USA
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — 11pm, Miami, USA
Tuesday 16 June
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand — 2am, Los Angeles, USA
Group I: France vs Senegal — 8pm, New Jersey, USA
Group I: Iraq vs Norway — 11pm, Foxborough, USA
Wednesday 17 June
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria — 2am, Kansas City, USA
Group J: Austria vs Jordan — kick-off time to be confirmed
Scotland's Group C Fixtures
Scotland have been placed in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti — a challenging draw by any measure. Their three group-stage fixtures are as follows:
- Haiti vs Scotland — Sunday 14 June, Foxborough (Boston), 2am UK time
- Scotland vs Morocco — Friday 19 June, Foxborough (Boston), 11pm UK time
- Scotland vs Brazil — Wednesday 24 June, Miami, 11pm UK time
Scotland's qualification for the 2026 World Cup represents only the nation's second appearance at the tournament since 1998, and their first in the expanded 48-team format. The opposition in Group C — particularly Brazil — represents a stern examination, though the late UK kick-off times for the Morocco and Brazil fixtures should at least allow domestic audiences to follow events without setting an alarm.
A Note for UK Viewers
The transatlantic time differences will be a recurring theme throughout this tournament. A significant proportion of group-stage matches kick off between midnight and 5am UK time, particularly those staged on the west coast of the United States and in Mexico. Viewers are advised to check individual kick-off times carefully before each matchday, with Sky Sports News's morning show offering a convenient recap of overnight results from 7am daily.
The full schedule for all 104 matches, including England's fixtures and group-stage tables, is available via snooker.org and the official FIFA channels. This guide will be updated as further scheduling details are confirmed.
