2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule in East Africa Time (EAT)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a landmark event in world football history. The tournament will be split between three countries for the first time ever the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Also, the competition will feature 48 teams, making it the biggest World Cup ever with the most games, the most venues, and the most different times to start the games. Fans of the game will be united by football again from mid, June to mid, July.

There will be 104 matches in North America spread across different time zones, so it is really necessary to keep track of the times when the games start. Most of the match times for football fans in East Africa will be during late evening, night, and early morning. This page has it all by showing the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule in East African Time (EAT), which makes it very easy to follow every game start time.

🌍 A Quick Look Back at World Cup History

The first FIFA World Cup was held in 1930 in Uruguay, and only 13 teams took part in it. Now, almost 100 years later, it’s the biggest sports event globally and every four years we get to see great matches, players who become legends and moments that are simply unforgettable.

There is no doubt that African football has made significant progress over the years at the global level. The remarkable performances of Cameroon (1990), Senegal (2002), Ghana (2010), and Morocco (2022) have challenged the perception that African countries can’t match the best teams. These matches have resulted in increased hope for East African fans that there will be more breakthroughs in the future.

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

⚽ 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 East Africa Time (EAT, UTC +3)
Final Venue MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

⏰ East Africa Time (EAT): What It Is and Where It’s Used

East Africa Time (EAT) operates at UTC+3 and does not observe daylight saving time. If you’re watching from any of the countries below, the kick-off times shown on this page is applicable to you:

  • Kenya
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Ethiopia
  • Somalia
  • Eritrea
  • Djibouti
  • South Sudan

Football passion runs deep across East Africa, where the World Cup brings communities together across borders. While qualification has historically been challenging, the expanded 48-team format offers African nations greater opportunity than ever before.

For fans in East Africa, the 2026 World Cup represents hope, progress, and growing African representation on football’s biggest stage.

🏟️ How the 2026 FIFA World Cup Competition Format Works

  • The 48 teams involved in the World Cup are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams in each group.
  • Each team plays three group-stage matches, or in other words, each team will face all other teams of its group once.
  • The 24 first and second ranked team and 8 best third-ranked teams based on performance in the group stage will qualify for the Round of 32, which is a Knockout round.

From the Round of 32 onward, the tournament follows a single-elimination knockout format. To lift the trophy, the champions must win five knockout matches in a row.

🕓 2026 FIFA World Cup Match Schedule in East Africa Time (EAT)

For viewers following East Africa Time (EAT), most group-stage matches will take place during the late night and early morning hours, while many knockout-stage fixtures fall into more manageable night-time slots.

The opening match will be played on 11 June 2026 at 10:00 PM (EAT), while the final will take place on 19 July 2026 at 10:00 PM (EAT).

Below is the complete list of all 104 matches, shown in East African Time (EAT).

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

🌍 Host Nations & Match Venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted across 16 cities in three North American countries.

United States: New York / New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Philadelphia, Kansas City

Canada: Toronto, Vancouver

Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey

📺 How to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in East Africa

Pan-African Broadcasters

  • New World TV – French-language rights holder for much of Sub-Saharan Africa
  • SuperSport (DStv/GOtv) – Full English-language coverage across East Africa

Country-Specific Broadcasters (Indicative)

  • Kenya: KBC, SuperSport
  • Tanzania: TBC, SuperSport
  • Uganda: UBC, SuperSport
  • Ethiopia: EBC

Digital Platforms

  • DStv Stream & Showmax
  • New World TV App
  • FIFA+

❓ East Africa Time (EAT) & 2026 FIFA World Cup – FAQs

Does EAT observe daylight saving time?
No. EAT remains constant at UTC +3 throughout the year.

Are all match times shown in EAT?
Yes. All kick-off times on this page are converted to East Africa Time.

When is the World Cup final in EAT?
The final will kick off on 19 July 2026 at 10:00 PM (EAT).

With East Africa aligned under East Africa Time, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises unforgettable nights of football. Bookmark this page, keep the EAT schedule close, and follow every moment of the tournament.

👤 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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