The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to blow the doors off international football. For the first time ever, it’ll be hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Bigger footprint. Bigger buzz. With 48 national teams battling it out across 104 matches, fans across India are in for the most wide-open, action-heavy World Cup we’ve ever seen.
For Indian football fans, overseas tournaments usually mean one thing — late nights, early alarms, and plenty of chai. This page makes life easier by laying out the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup match schedule converted into Indian Standard Time (IST), so you can plan every group-stage showdown, knockout clash, and the final without juggling time zones in your head.
🌍 A Short History of the FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup kicked off back in 1930 in Uruguay and hasn’t slowed down since. Held once every four years, it’s grown into the most-watched sporting event on the planet. Generations have been shaped by moments like Pelé ruling 1970, Diego Maradona lighting up 1986, Germany’s relentless consistency, and Argentina’s edge-of-your-seat triumph in 2022.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the recent FIFA World Cup champions:
| 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 |
When history’s tallied up, Brazil still sit on top with five World Cup titles, with Germany and Italy close behind. But 2026 is all about fresh stories, with several emerging teams stepping onto football’s biggest stage for the very first time.
⚽ Quick Facts – 2026 FIFA World Cup
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Nations | USA, Canada, Mexico |
| Tournament Dates | June 11 – July 19, 2026 |
| Total Teams | 48 |
| Total Matches | 104 |
| Time Zone Used on This Page | Indian Standard Time (UTC +5:30) |
| Final Venue | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA |
🏟️ Understanding the New 48-Team World Cup Format
- 48 teams split into 12 groups of four
- Top two teams from each group qualify automatically for the Round of 32
- Eight best third-placed teams also advance to the Round of 32
- Knockout stage starts on 28 June 2026 (29 June as per IST) and runs right through to the final on 19 July 2026 (20 July as per IST)
The expansion changes everything. More matches, more nations involved, and more flexible kick-off windows — great news for fans in India juggling workdays with match nights.
🕓 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Schedule in Indian Standard Time (IST)
It all begins at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. For viewers in India, the opening match lands at 12:30 AM IST on June 12, 2026. The grand finale, played locally on July 19 in the USA, will kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 20, 2026. Late night. Massive stakes.
Below is the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup match schedule, with every kick-off time shown in Indian Standard Time:
| Date | Time | Team 1 Score Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
12 June, 2026 (Friday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |  Mexico
vs
South Africa  |
7:30 AM (IST) |  South Korea
vs
DEN/MKD/CZE/IRL | |
13 June, 2026 (Saturday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |  Canada
vs
ITA/NIR/WAL/BIH |
6:30 AM (IST) |  USA
vs
Paraguay  | |
14 June, 2026 (Sunday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |  Qatar
vs
Switzerland  |
3:30 AM (IST) |  Brazil
vs
Morocco  | |
6:30 AM (IST) |  Haiti
vs
Scotland  | |
9:30 AM (IST) |  Australia
vs
TUR/ROU/SVK/KOS | |
10:30 PM (IST) |  Germany
vs
Curaçao  | |
15 June, 2026 (Monday) |
1:30 AM (IST) |  Netherlands
vs
Japan  |
4:30 AM (IST) |  Ivory Coast
vs
Ecuador  | |
7:30 AM (IST) |
UKR/SWE/POL/ALB
vs
Tunisia  | |
9:30 PM (IST) |  Spain
vs
Cape Verde  | |
16 June, 2026 (Tuesday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |  Belgium
vs
Egypt  |
3:30 AM (IST) |  Saudi Arabia
vs
Uruguay  | |
6:30 AM (IST) |  Iran
vs
New Zealand  | |
17 June, 2026 (Wednesday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |  France
vs
Senegal  |
3:30 AM (IST) |
BOL/SUR/IRQ
vs
Norway  | |
6:30 AM (IST) |  Argentina
vs
Algeria  | |
9:30 AM (IST) |  Austria
vs
Jordan  | |
10:30 PM (IST) |  Portugal
vs
NCL/JAM/COD | |
18 June, 2026 (Thursday) |
1:30 AM (IST) |  England
vs
Croatia  |
4:30 AM (IST) |  Ghana
vs
Panama  | |
7:30 AM (IST) |  Uzbekistan
vs
Colombia  | |
9:30 PM (IST) |
DEN/MKD/CZE/IRL
vs
South Africa | |
19 June, 2026 (Friday) |
12:30 AM (IST) | Switzerland
vs
ITA/NIR/WAL/BIH |
3:30 AM (IST) | Canada
vs
Qatar | |
6:30 AM (IST) | Mexico
vs
South Korea | |
20 June, 2026 (Saturday) |
12:30 AM (IST) | USA
vs
Australia |
3:30 AM (IST) | Scotland
vs
Morocco | |
6:30 AM (IST) | Brazil
vs
Haiti | |
9:30 AM (IST) |
TUR/ROU/SVK/KOS
vs
Paraguay | |
10:30 PM (IST) | Netherlands
vs
UKR/SWE/POL/ALB | |
21 June, 2026 (Sunday) |
1:30 AM (IST) | Germany
vs
Ivory Coast |
5:30 AM (IST) | Ecuador
vs
Curaçao | |
9:30 AM (IST) | Tunisia
vs
Japan | |
9:30 PM (IST) | Spain
vs
Saudi Arabia | |
22 June, 2026 (Monday) |
12:30 AM (IST) | Belgium
vs
Iran |
3:30 AM (IST) | Uruguay
vs
Cape Verde | |
6:30 AM (IST) | New Zealand
vs
Egypt | |
10:30 PM (IST) | Argentina
vs
Austria | |
23 June, 2026 (Tuesday) |
2:30 AM (IST) | France
vs
BOL/SUR/IRQ |
5:30 AM (IST) | Norway
vs
Senegal | |
8:30 AM (IST) | Jordan
vs
Algeria | |
10:30 PM (IST) | Portugal
vs
Uzbekistan | |
24 June, 2026 (Wednesday) |
1:30 AM (IST) | England
vs
Ghana |
4:30 AM (IST) | Panama
vs
Croatia | |
7:30 AM (IST) | Colombia
vs
NCL/JAM/COD | |
25 June, 2026 (Thursday) |
12:30 AM (IST) | Switzerland
vs
Canada |
12:30 AM (IST) |
ITA/NIR/WAL/BIH
vs
Qatar | |
3:30 AM (IST) | Scotland
vs
Brazil | |
3:30 AM (IST) | Morocco
vs
Haiti | |
6:30 AM (IST) |
DEN/MKD/CZE/IRL
vs
Mexico | |
6:30 AM (IST) | South Africa
vs
South Korea | |
26 June, 2026 (Friday) |
1:30 AM (IST) | Curaçao
vs
Ivory Coast |
1:30 AM (IST) | Ecuador
vs
Germany | |
4:30 AM (IST) | Japan
vs
UKR/SWE/POL/ALB | |
4:30 AM (IST) | Tunisia
vs
Netherlands | |
7:30 AM (IST) |
TUR/ROU/SVK/KOS
vs
USA | |
7:30 AM (IST) | Paraguay
vs
Australia | |
27 June, 2026 (Saturday) |
12:30 AM (IST) | Norway
vs
France |
12:30 AM (IST) | Senegal
vs
BOL/SUR/IRQ | |
5:30 AM (IST) | Cape Verde
vs
Saudi Arabia | |
5:30 AM (IST) | Uruguay
vs
Spain | |
8:30 AM (IST) | Egypt
vs
Iran | |
8:30 AM (IST) | New Zealand
vs
Belgium | |
28 June, 2026 (Sunday) |
2:30 AM (IST) | Panama
vs
England |
2:30 AM (IST) | Croatia
vs
Ghana | |
5:00 AM (IST) | Colombia
vs
Portugal | |
5:00 AM (IST) |
NCL/JAM/COD
vs
Uzbekistan | |
7:30 AM (IST) | Algeria
vs
Austria | |
7:30 AM (IST) | Jordan
vs
Argentina | |
29 June, 2026 (Monday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Runner-up Group A
vs
Runner-up Group B |
10:30 PM (IST) |
Winner Group C
vs
Runner-up Group F | |
30 June, 2026 (Tuesday) |
2:00 AM (IST) |
Winner Group E
vs
3rd Group A/B/C/D/F |
6:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group F
vs
Runner-up Group C | |
10:30 PM (IST) |
Runner-up Group E
vs
Runner-up Group I | |
1 July, 2026 (Wednesday) |
2:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group I
vs
3rd Group C/D/F/G/H |
6:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group A
vs
3rd Group C/E/F/H/I | |
9:30 PM (IST) |
Winner Group L
vs
3rd Group E/H/I/J/K | |
2 July, 2026 (Thursday) |
1:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group G
vs
3rd Group A/E/H/I/J |
5:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group D
vs
3rd Group B/E/F/I/J | |
3 July, 2026 (Friday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group H
vs
Runner-up Group J |
4:30 AM (IST) |
Runner-up Group K
vs
Runner-up Group L | |
8:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group B
vs
3rd Group E/F/G/I/J | |
11:30 PM (IST) |
Runner-up Group D
vs
Runner-up Group G | |
4 July, 2026 (Saturday) |
3:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Group J
vs
Runner-up Group H |
7:00 AM (IST) |
Winner Group K
vs
3rd Group D/E/I/J/L | |
10:30 PM (IST) |
Winner Match 73
vs
Winner Match 75 | |
5 July, 2026 (Sunday) |
2:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 74
vs
Winner Match 77 |
6 July, 2026 (Monday) |
1:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 76
vs
Winner Match 78 |
5:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 79
vs
Winner Match 80 | |
7 July, 2026 (Tuesday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 83
vs
Winner Match 84 |
5:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 81
vs
Winner Match 82 | |
9:30 PM (IST) |
Winner Match 86
vs
Winner Match 88 | |
8 July, 2026 (Wednesday) |
1:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 85
vs
Winner Match 87 |
10 July, 2026 (Friday) |
1:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 89
vs
Winner Match 90 |
11 July, 2026 (Saturday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 93
vs
Winner Match 94 |
12 July, 2026 (Sunday) |
2:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 91
vs
Winner Match 92 |
6:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 95
vs
Winner Match 96 | |
15 July, 2026 (Wednesday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 97
vs
Winner Match 98 |
16 July, 2026 (Thursday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 99
vs
Winner Match 100 |
19 July, 2026 (Sunday) |
2:30 AM (IST) |
Loser Match 101
vs
Loser Match 102 |
20 July, 2026 (Monday) |
12:30 AM (IST) |
Winner Match 101
vs
Winner Match 102 |
🌍 Host Nations & Match Venues
UNITED STATES
CANADA
MEXICO📺 How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India
- Official Indian TV broadcasters (TBA)
- OTT streaming platforms with mobile and smart TV access
- FIFA+ for highlights and selected matches
🌐 View Schedules in Other Time Zones
Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST)Late nights. Early alarms. Pure football chaos. The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises weeks of unforgettable action for fans in India. Bookmark this page, keep the IST schedule close, and get ready for the biggest World Cup the game’s ever seen.
