The 2026 FIFA World Cup is going to be a game-changer in many aspects. Never before has the World Cup been hosted by three countries at the same time, the US, Canada, and Mexico and quite certainly, it won’t be the last time. Also, for the first time in the history of the competition, 48 teams will compete instead of 32, thus, more teams, more matches, and more host cities than ever before. From mid, June to mid, July, worldwide football fever will take over.
There will be 48 teams, a record number of 104 matches, and the games will be played across several North American time zones, so fans worldwide will have to be on top of kick-off times. For local football enthusiasts in Central Africa, match timing will range from late evenings to overnight hours, depending on which city is the host. This page brings all the information together by providing the full 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule in Central Africa Time (CAT), so that one can easily follow every kick-off.
🌍 A Quick Look Back at World Cup History
The international soccer competition of the FIFA World Cup was inaugurated in 1930 in Uruguay. Only 13 teams were involved. It is now almost 100 years later, and it has become the most spectacular and most-viewed sporting event, after going through a process of wonderful players, thrilling matches, and defining football history moments.
There has been a real development of African soccer on the world stage through the decades. The beautiful continent has been home to several iconic World Cup triumphs, Cameroon’s game-changing performance in 1990, Senegal’s incredible journey in 2002, and Morocco’s outstanding quarter-final qualification in 2022. So, has the global football fraternity recognized Africa as a continent with world-class football talents and teams capable of going toe to toe with the big guns?
Below is a look at the most recent FIFA World Cup winners:
| Year | Host Nation | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina |
| 2018 | Russia | France |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy |
| 2002 | Japan & South Korea | Brazil |
| 1998 | France | France |
Brazil is still the number one nation with the most titles, five of them, but there will be more spots for African teams to take advantage of the opportunity to qualify for 2026 World Cup with an enlarged 48, team tournament.
⚽ Quick Facts – 2026 FIFA World Cup
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Nations | USA, Canada, Mexico |
| Tournament Dates | 11 June – 19 July 2026 |
| Total Teams | 48 |
| Total Matches | 104 |
| Time Zone Used on This Page | Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC +2) |
| Final Venue | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA |
⏰ Central Africa Time (CAT): What It Is and Where It’s Used
Central Africa Time (CAT) is two hours (UTC+2) ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and does not observe daylight saving time, which means the match times remain consistent throughout the tournament, without seasonal clock changes.
If you’re watching from any of the countries below, the kick-off times shown on this page apply directly to you:
Zambia- Zimbabwe
- Malawi
- Burundi
- Rwanda
- Botswana
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (most regions)
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Malawi
Burundi
Rwanda
Botswana
Mozambique
Namibia
Democratic Republic of the Congo (most regions)If your local time matches cities such as Lusaka, Harare, Kigali, Bujumbura, or Windhoek, this CAT-based schedule is the correct reference for you.
🏟️ How the 2026 FIFA World Cup Competition Format Works
The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduces a new competition format following the expansion to 48 teams.
- Each team will be placed in a group of 4 teams, so a total of 12 groups will be created to accommodate 48 teams
- Each team will face all other teams in its group once, thereby playing three group-stage matches
- 24 Teams which will be either first or second ranked after the group stage, along with the 8 best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 32
From the Round of 32 onwards, the tournament follows a single-elimination knockout format. To lift the trophy, the champion must win five consecutive knockout matches.
🌍 Central Africa & the World Cup Landscape
In Central Africa, football is a way of life, so when the FIFA World Cup comes around, it feels like a party and a reunion of friends and families across borders. Though securing qualification slots for most African teams has been an uphill battle, these teams have been able to show the world their survival nature, great physical abilities and their tactical maturity.
Looking forward to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the tournament structure increased to 48 teams, African nations are given a new lease of life with the chances of qualifying and going further that much bigger. For the Central African football enthusiasts, the World Cup is a door which opens, a dream becomes real, more African teams getting stronger and stronger on the world stage, and eventually playing in the prestigious global event.
🕓 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Schedule in Central Africa Time (CAT)
For viewers following Central Africa Time (CAT), most group-stage matches will take place during the late evening and early morning hours, while many knockout-stage fixtures are scheduled at more comfortable night-time slots.
The opening match of the tournament will be played on 11 June 2026 at 9:00 PM (CAT), while the final will take place on 19 July 2026 at 9:00 PM (CAT).
Below is the complete list of all 104 matches, with kick-off times shown in Central Africa Time (CAT). Use the filters to find fixtures involving your favourite teams.
🌍 Host Nations & Match Venues
The matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held in 16 different cities from three different countries, namely the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This unique model of a tri-nation hosting marks the first occasion when the World Cup will be hosted by three countries simultaneously.
The United States will be the primary host of the tournament, with games planned for New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Philadelphia, and Kansas City.
Canada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico will be the host for games in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
Since the locations will be distributed in different time zones across North America, the kickoff times will be different for fans in Central Africa. Therefore, having a Central Africa Time (CAT) based schedule is a must for those who want to watch the tournament live.
📺 How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Central Africa
New World TV group can be considered as the main rights holder of the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcasts at least, for the Central African region. New World TV, in turn, resells the rights to pan-African networks and national broadcasters. A football enthusiast with a pay-TV subscription is in a position to watch the entire World Cup, which consists of 104 matches. At the same time, a viewer of local free-to-air channels will be able to watch 34 matches only, through a selection package.
Pan-African Broadcasters
- New World TV (NWTV) – The master rights holder for Sub-Saharan Africa; the exclusive home for French-language coverage across Central and West Africa.
- SuperSport (DStv/GOtv) – The primary English-language pay-TV partner, broadcasting every match of the tournament live in High Definition.
Country-Specific Broadcasters (Indicative)
- Zambia: ZNBC, SuperSport
- Zimbabwe: ZBC, SuperSport
- Malawi: MBC, SuperSport
- Rwanda: RBA/Rwanda TV, New World TV
- Burundi: RTNB, New World TV
- Botswana: BTV, SuperSport
- Mozambique: TVM, SuperSport
- Namibia: NBC, SuperSport
- DR Congo: RTNC, New World TV
Digital & Online Platforms
- DStv Stream & Showmax
- New World TV App.
- FIFA+.
You can also explore our global FIFA World Cup 2026 Watch Guide for broadcasters, TV channels, and live streaming platforms across different countries.
❓ Central Africa Time (CAT) & 2026 FIFA World Cup – FAQs
Q1. What is Central Africa Time (CAT)?
Central Africa Time (CAT) operates at UTC +2 and is used by several countries across Central and Southern Africa. Unlike some other regions, CAT does not observe daylight saving time, so the clock remains the same throughout the year.
Q2. Which countries use Central Africa Time?
CAT is used in countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, and parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, among others.
Q3. Will all 2026 World Cup match times on this page be shown in CAT?
Yes. Every match listed on this page is converted and displayed in Central Africa Time (CAT), so no manual time conversion is needed from your end.
Q4. What time of day will most World Cup matches kick off in CAT?
Due to the tournament being hosted in North America, most matches will take place during the late evening and early morning hours in CAT, with some knockout-stage games scheduled at more convenient night-time slots.
Q5. When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in Central Africa Time?
The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played on 19 July 2026 at 9:00 PM (CAT).
🌐 View Schedules in Other Time Zones
With much of Central Africa aligned under Central Africa Time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises unforgettable nights of football. Bookmark this page, keep the CAT schedule close, and follow every moment as the tournament unfolds.
