2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule in UAE Standard Time (GST)

Football fans in the United Arab Emirates are in for an exciting experience as the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises late-night drama, spectacular goals, and a worldwide celebration of football. With the tournament being hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, fans in the UAE will need to keep a close eye on kick-off times in UAE Standard Time to catch all the action live.

There is good news for supporters in the Gulf region, as many matches are scheduled for the late evening and nighttime, allowing fans to watch the biggest games after work or family time. While some group-stage fixtures may continue into the early hours, most high-profile knockout matches are timed conveniently for viewers in the UAE.

This page provides the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule in UAE Standard Time, covering all 104 matches from the opening game on 11 June 2026 to the final on 19 July 2026. Whether you are watching at home, in cafés, or in fan zones across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah, this guide helps ensure you never miss a moment of the tournament.

UAE Standard Time, also known as Gulf Standard Time, operates at UTC+4 throughout the year. As there is no daylight saving time, kick-off times will remain consistent during the entire tournament, allowing fans to plan their World Cup viewing with confidence and ease.

🌍 FIFA World Cup History at a Glance

First staged in 1930 in Uruguay, the FIFA World Cup has grown into the largest and most watched sporting event on the planet. What began as a 13-team experiment has evolved into a global festival of football, passion, and national pride, captivating audiences across every continent. From 2026, the tournament enters a new era with its expansion to 48 nations, giving more countries the chance to appear on the grandest stage of the game.

Over the decades, the World Cup has produced legendary players, iconic matches, and moments that have shaped the history of football. While the list of champions has long been dominated by teams from Europe and South America, the modern tournament increasingly reflects the sport’s global growth, with rising influence from nations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

The move to a 48-team format represents a new chapter of inclusiveness and opportunity. The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises a larger and more diverse spectacle, with more nations, more matches, and fresh storylines, creating space for new contenders to emerge alongside the game’s traditional giants.

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

⚽ Quick Facts – 2026 FIFA World Cup

Category Details
Host Nations United States, Canada, Mexico
Tournament Dates 11 June – 19 July 2026
Total Teams 48
Total Matches 104
Time Zone Used UAE Standard Time / Gulf Standard Time (UTC+4)
Final Venue MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

⏰ UAE Standard Time & Gulf Standard Time: What It Is and Where It’s Used

UAE Standard Time is officially known as Gulf Standard Time (GST) and operates at UTC +4. It is used year-round and does not observe daylight saving time, making it one of the most stable time zones for following international tournaments.

Gulf Standard Time is shared by several countries across the Arabian Gulf, including:

  • United Arab Emirates
  • Oman
  • Azerbaijan (partially / historically aligned)

If your local time matches cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Muscat, or Fujairah, the kick-off times shown on this page apply directly to you.

Football in the United Arab Emirates

Football in the United Arab Emirates has progressed at a remarkable pace over the past few decades, supported by strong domestic competitions, continuous investment in infrastructure, and a rapidly growing football culture. At the heart of the national system is the UAE Pro League, which not only develops local talent but also attracts experienced international players, raising the overall standard of the league.

The UAE national team has enjoyed notable success on the Asian stage, with its greatest achievement coming in 1990, when the country qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first and only time so far. Although the team was eliminated in the group stage in Italy, reaching the finals remains the most significant milestone in Emirati football history and a lasting source of national pride.

Beyond the national team, the UAE has emerged as one of the leading football hubs in the Middle East, regularly hosting major tournaments, continental finals, and elite club competitions. With growing fan support and an expanding network of youth academies, football in the UAE continues to move toward the next level, driven by the long-term ambition of returning to the World Cup stage.

🕓 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Schedule (UAE Standard Time)

For fans following the tournament in UAE Time /Gulf Time, most matches will kick off between the late evening and early morning hours. Group-stage fixtures may extend past midnight, while knockout matches often fall into comfortable late-evening windows.

The opening match of the tournament will begin on 11 June 2026 at 11:00 PM (GST), while the final will be played on 19 July 2026 at 11:00 PM (GST).

Below is the full list of all 104 matches, with kick-off times shown in UAE Standard Time. Use the filters to find fixtures involving your favourite teams.

Date Time Team 1 Score Team 2
(Thursday)
11:00 PM (GST)
Mexico
vs
South Africa
Mexico City
Match No. 1
Group A
(Friday)
6:00 AM (GST)
South Korea
vs
Czechia
Guadalajara
Match No. 2
Group A
11:00 PM (GST)
Canada
vs
Bosnia
Toronto
Match No. 3
Group B
(Saturday)
5:00 AM (GST)
USA
vs
Paraguay
Los Angeles
Match No. 4
Group D
11:00 PM (GST)
Qatar
vs
Switzerland
SF Bay Area
Match No. 8
Group B
(Sunday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Brazil
vs
Morocco
New York
Match No. 7
Group C
5:00 AM (GST)
Haiti
vs
Scotland
Boston
Match No. 5
Group C
8:00 AM (GST)
Australia
vs
Turkey
Vancouver
Match No. 6
Group D
9:00 PM (GST)
Germany
vs
Curaçao
Houston
Match No. 10
Group E
(Monday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Netherlands
vs
Japan
Dallas
Match No. 11
Group F
3:00 AM (GST)
Ivory Coast
vs
Ecuador
Philadelphia
Match No. 9
Group E
6:00 AM (GST)
Sweden
vs
Tunisia
Monterrey
Match No. 12
Group F
8:00 PM (GST)
Spain
vs
Cape Verde
Atlanta
Match No. 14
Group H
11:00 PM (GST)
Belgium
vs
Egypt
Seattle
Match No. 16
Group G
(Tuesday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Saudi Arabia
vs
Uruguay
Miami
Match No. 13
Group H
5:00 AM (GST)
Iran
vs
New Zealand
Los Angeles
Match No. 15
Group G
11:00 PM (GST)
France
vs
Senegal
New York
Match No. 17
Group I
(Wednesday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Iraq
vs
Norway
Boston
Match No. 18
Group I
5:00 AM (GST)
Argentina
vs
Algeria
Kansas City
Match No. 19
Group J
8:00 AM (GST)
Austria
vs
Jordan
SF Bay Area
Match No. 20
Group J
9:00 PM (GST)
Portugal
vs
DR Congo
Houston
Match No. 23
Group K
(Thursday)
12:00 AM (GST)
England
vs
Croatia
Dallas
Match No. 22
Group L
3:00 AM (GST)
Ghana
vs
Panama
Toronto
Match No. 21
Group L
6:00 AM (GST)
Uzbekistan
vs
Colombia
Mexico City
Match No. 24
Group K
8:00 PM (GST)
Czechia
vs
South Africa
Atlanta
Match No. 25
Group A
11:00 PM (GST)
Switzerland
vs
Bosnia
Los Angeles
Match No. 26
Group B
(Friday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Canada
vs
Qatar
Vancouver
Match No. 27
Group B
5:00 AM (GST)
Mexico
vs
South Korea
Guadalajara
Match No. 28
Group A
11:00 PM (GST)
USA
vs
Australia
Seattle
Match No. 32
Group D
(Saturday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Scotland
vs
Morocco
Boston
Match No. 30
Group C
5:00 AM (GST)
Brazil
vs
Haiti
Philadelphia
Match No. 29
Group C
8:00 AM (GST)
Turkey
vs
Paraguay
SF Bay Area
Match No. 31
Group D
9:00 PM (GST)
Netherlands
vs
Sweden
Houston
Match No. 35
Group F
(Sunday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Germany
vs
Ivory Coast
Toronto
Match No. 33
Group E
4:00 AM (GST)
Ecuador
vs
Curaçao
Kansas City
Match No. 34
Group E
8:00 AM (GST)
Tunisia
vs
Japan
Monterrey
Match No. 36
Group F
8:00 PM (GST)
Spain
vs
Saudi Arabia
Atlanta
Match No. 38
Group H
11:00 PM (GST)
Belgium
vs
Iran
Los Angeles
Match No. 39
Group G
(Monday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Uruguay
vs
Cape Verde
Miami
Match No. 37
Group H
5:00 AM (GST)
New Zealand
vs
Egypt
Vancouver
Match No. 40
Group G
9:00 PM (GST)
Argentina
vs
Austria
Dallas
Match No. 43
Group J
(Tuesday)
1:00 AM (GST)
France
vs
Iraq
Philadelphia
Match No. 42
Group I
4:00 AM (GST)
Norway
vs
Senegal
New York
Match No. 41
Group I
7:00 AM (GST)
Jordan
vs
Algeria
SF Bay Area
Match No. 44
Group J
9:00 PM (GST)
Portugal
vs
Uzbekistan
Houston
Match No. 47
Group K
(Wednesday)
12:00 AM (GST)
England
vs
Ghana
Boston
Match No. 45
Group L
3:00 AM (GST)
Panama
vs
Croatia
Toronto
Match No. 46
Group L
6:00 AM (GST)
Colombia
vs
DR Congo
Guadalajara
Match No. 48
Group K
11:00 PM (GST)
Switzerland
vs
Canada
Vancouver
Match No. 51
Group B
11:00 PM (GST)
Bosnia
vs
Qatar
Seattle
Match No. 52
Group B
(Thursday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Scotland
vs
Brazil
Miami
Match No. 49
Group C
2:00 AM (GST)
Morocco
vs
Haiti
Atlanta
Match No. 50
Group C
5:00 AM (GST)
Czechia
vs
Mexico
Mexico City
Match No. 53
Group A
5:00 AM (GST)
South Africa
vs
South Korea
Monterrey
Match No. 54
Group A
(Friday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Curaçao
vs
Ivory Coast
Philadelphia
Match No. 55
Group E
12:00 AM (GST)
Ecuador
vs
Germany
New York
Match No. 56
Group E
3:00 AM (GST)
Japan
vs
Sweden
Dallas
Match No. 57
Group F
3:00 AM (GST)
Tunisia
vs
Netherlands
Kansas City
Match No. 58
Group F
6:00 AM (GST)
Turkey
vs
USA
Los Angeles
Match No. 59
Group D
6:00 AM (GST)
Paraguay
vs
Australia
SF Bay Area
Match No. 60
Group D
11:00 PM (GST)
Norway
vs
France
Boston
Match No. 61
Group I
11:00 PM (GST)
Senegal
vs
Iraq
Toronto
Match No. 62
Group I
(Saturday)
4:00 AM (GST)
Cape Verde
vs
Saudi Arabia
Houston
Match No. 65
Group H
4:00 AM (GST)
Uruguay
vs
Spain
Guadalajara
Match No. 66
Group H
7:00 AM (GST)
Egypt
vs
Iran
Seattle
Match No. 63
Group G
7:00 AM (GST)
New Zealand
vs
Belgium
Vancouver
Match No. 64
Group G
(Sunday)
1:00 AM (GST)
Panama
vs
England
New York
Match No. 67
Group L
1:00 AM (GST)
Croatia
vs
Ghana
Philadelphia
Match No. 68
Group L
3:30 AM (GST)
Colombia
vs
Portugal
Miami
Match No. 71
Group K
3:30 AM (GST)
DR Congo
vs
Uzbekistan
Atlanta
Match No. 72
Group K
6:00 AM (GST)
Algeria
vs
Austria
Kansas City
Match No. 69
Group J
6:00 AM (GST)
Jordan
vs
Argentina
Dallas
Match No. 70
Group J
11:00 PM (GST)
Runner-up Group A
vs
Runner-up Group B
Los Angeles
Match No. 73
Round of 32
(Monday)
9:00 PM (GST)
Winner Group C
vs
Runner-up Group F
Houston
Match No. 76
Round of 32
(Tuesday)
12:30 AM (GST)
Winner Group E
vs
3rd Group A/B/C/D/F
Boston
Match No. 74
Round of 32
5:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group F
vs
Runner-up Group C
Monterrey
Match No. 75
Round of 32
9:00 PM (GST)
Runner-up Group E
vs
Runner-up Group I
Dallas
Match No. 78
Round of 32
(Wednesday)
1:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group I
vs
3rd Group C/D/F/G/H
New York
Match No. 77
Round of 32
5:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group A
vs
3rd Group C/E/F/H/I
Mexico City
Match No. 79
Round of 32
8:00 PM (GST)
Winner Group L
vs
3rd Group E/H/I/J/K
Atlanta
Match No. 80
Round of 32
(Thursday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group G
vs
3rd Group A/E/H/I/J
Seattle
Match No. 82
Round of 32
4:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group D
vs
3rd Group B/E/F/I/J
SF Bay Area
Match No. 81
Round of 32
11:00 PM (GST)
Winner Group H
vs
Runner-up Group J
Los Angeles
Match No. 84
Round of 32
(Friday)
3:00 AM (GST)
Runner-up Group K
vs
Runner-up Group L
Toronto
Match No. 83
Round of 32
7:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group B
vs
3rd Group E/F/G/I/J
Vancouver
Match No. 85
Round of 32
10:00 PM (GST)
Runner-up Group D
vs
Runner-up Group G
Dallas
Match No. 88
Round of 32
(Saturday)
2:00 AM (GST)
Winner Group J
vs
Runner-up Group H
Miami
Match No. 86
Round of 32
5:30 AM (GST)
Winner Group K
vs
3rd Group D/E/I/J/L
Kansas City
Match No. 87
Round of 32
9:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 73
vs
Winner Match 75
Houston
Match No. 90
Round of 16
(Sunday)
1:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 74
vs
Winner Match 77
Philadelphia
Match No. 89
Round of 16
(Monday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 76
vs
Winner Match 78
New York
Match No. 91
Round of 16
4:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 79
vs
Winner Match 80
Mexico City
Match No. 92
Round of 16
11:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 83
vs
Winner Match 84
Dallas
Match No. 93
Round of 16
(Tuesday)
4:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 81
vs
Winner Match 82
Seattle
Match No. 94
Round of 16
8:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 86
vs
Winner Match 88
Atlanta
Match No. 95
Round of 16
(Wednesday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 85
vs
Winner Match 87
Vancouver
Match No. 96
Round of 16
(Friday)
12:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 89
vs
Winner Match 90
Boston
Match No. 97
Quarterfinals
11:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 93
vs
Winner Match 94
Los Angeles
Match No. 98
Quarterfinals
(Sunday)
1:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 91
vs
Winner Match 92
Miami
Match No. 99
Quarterfinals
5:00 AM (GST)
Winner Match 95
vs
Winner Match 96
Kansas City
Match No. 100
Quarterfinals
(Tuesday)
11:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 97
vs
Winner Match 98
Dallas
Match No. 101
Semifinals
(Wednesday)
11:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 99
vs
Winner Match 100
Atlanta
Match No. 102
Semifinals
(Sunday)
1:00 AM (GST)
Loser Match 101
vs
Loser Match 102
Miami
Match No. 103
Third place
11:00 PM (GST)
Winner Match 101
vs
Winner Match 102
New York
Match No. 104
Final

🌍 Host Nations & Match Venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be staged across three North American countries and 16 host cities, making it the most geographically extensive tournament in the history of the competition.

Matches will be played throughout the United States in New York–New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. Canada will host games in Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico will complete the lineup with fixtures in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

With the tournament spread across several time zones from coast to coast, kick-off times will vary widely from match to match. By presenting the full schedule in UAE Standard Time, fans in the Emirates can avoid confusion, plan accurately, and follow every game with ease from the opening whistle to the final.

📺 How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the UAE

  • beIN Sports MENA – Exclusive broadcaster across the Middle East
  • beIN CONNECT – Official streaming platform
  • FIFA+ – Highlights, replays, and official content

❓ UAE Standard Time & 2026 World Cup – FAQs

Q1. Are all kick-off times shown in UAE Standard Time?
Yes. Every match on this page is displayed in GST (UTC+4).

Q2. Is UAE Standard Time the same as Gulf Standard Time?
Yes. UAE Standard Time and Gulf Standard Time (GST) refer to the same time zone, which is UTC+4.

Q3. Does the UAE observe daylight saving time?
No. The UAE observes the same time zone throughout the year.

Q4. When is the World Cup final in UAE time?
The final will be played on 19 July 2026 at 11:00 PM (GST).

With stable kick-off times, passionate fans, and football culture growing stronger every year, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises unforgettable nights for supporters across the United Arab Emirates. Bookmark this page and follow every moment in UAE Standard Time.

👤 About the Author

Pooja Sharma

Pooja Sharma

Pooja Sharma is the founder, publisher, and editor of WorldCupLocalTime.com, an independent editorial platform focused on the FIFA World Cup. She has over 7 years of experience in sports publishing and digital content development, specializing in tournament structure, match scheduling systems, and regulatory analysis based on official FIFA publications. Her editorial work focuses on explaining how the World Cup operates — including qualification systems, competition format, stadium certification, disciplinary regulations, and tournament procedures — helping readers understand both the schedule and the structural framework behind the competition. As the independent publisher of the platform, she oversees all editorial content, research, and updates to ensure accuracy, clarity, and neutrality. Based in New Delhi, India, she manages all editorial and publishing operations of WorldCupLocalTime.com.

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