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 |
|---|---|---|
|
11 June, 2026
(Thursday)
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Mexico
vs
South Africa
|
|
12 June, 2026
(Friday)
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
South Korea
vs
Czechia
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Canada
vs
Bosnia
|
|
|
13 June, 2026
(Saturday)
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
USA
vs
Paraguay
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Qatar
vs
Switzerland
|
|
|
14 June, 2026
(Sunday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Brazil
vs
Morocco
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Haiti
vs
Scotland
|
|
|
8:00 AM (GST)
|
Australia
vs
Turkey
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Germany
vs
Curaçao
|
|
|
15 June, 2026
(Monday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Netherlands
vs
Japan
|
|
3:00 AM (GST)
|
Ivory Coast
vs
Ecuador
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Sweden
vs
Tunisia
|
|
|
8:00 PM (GST)
|
Spain
vs
Cape Verde
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Belgium
vs
Egypt
|
|
|
16 June, 2026
(Tuesday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Saudi Arabia
vs
Uruguay
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Iran
vs
New Zealand
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
France
vs
Senegal
|
|
|
17 June, 2026
(Wednesday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Iraq
vs
Norway
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Argentina
vs
Algeria
|
|
|
8:00 AM (GST)
|
Austria
vs
Jordan
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Portugal
vs
DR Congo
|
|
|
18 June, 2026
(Thursday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
England
vs
Croatia
|
|
3:00 AM (GST)
|
Ghana
vs
Panama
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Uzbekistan
vs
Colombia
|
|
|
8:00 PM (GST)
|
Czechia
vs
South Africa
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Switzerland
vs
Bosnia
|
|
|
19 June, 2026
(Friday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Canada
vs
Qatar
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Mexico
vs
South Korea
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
USA
vs
Australia
|
|
|
20 June, 2026
(Saturday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Scotland
vs
Morocco
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Brazil
vs
Haiti
|
|
|
8:00 AM (GST)
|
Turkey
vs
Paraguay
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Netherlands
vs
Sweden
|
|
|
21 June, 2026
(Sunday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Germany
vs
Ivory Coast
|
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Ecuador
vs
Curaçao
|
|
|
8:00 AM (GST)
|
Tunisia
vs
Japan
|
|
|
8:00 PM (GST)
|
Spain
vs
Saudi Arabia
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Belgium
vs
Iran
|
|
|
22 June, 2026
(Monday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Uruguay
vs
Cape Verde
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
New Zealand
vs
Egypt
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Argentina
vs
Austria
|
|
|
23 June, 2026
(Tuesday)
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
France
vs
Iraq
|
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Norway
vs
Senegal
|
|
|
7:00 AM (GST)
|
Jordan
vs
Algeria
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Portugal
vs
Uzbekistan
|
|
|
24 June, 2026
(Wednesday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
England
vs
Ghana
|
|
3:00 AM (GST)
|
Panama
vs
Croatia
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Colombia
vs
DR Congo
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Switzerland
vs
Canada
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Bosnia
vs
Qatar
|
|
|
25 June, 2026
(Thursday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Scotland
vs
Brazil
|
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Morocco
vs
Haiti
|
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Czechia
vs
Mexico
|
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
South Africa
vs
South Korea
|
|
|
26 June, 2026
(Friday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Curaçao
vs
Ivory Coast
|
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Ecuador
vs
Germany
|
|
|
3:00 AM (GST)
|
Japan
vs
Sweden
|
|
|
3:00 AM (GST)
|
Tunisia
vs
Netherlands
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Turkey
vs
USA
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Paraguay
vs
Australia
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Norway
vs
France
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Senegal
vs
Iraq
|
|
|
27 June, 2026
(Saturday)
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Cape Verde
vs
Saudi Arabia
|
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Uruguay
vs
Spain
|
|
|
7:00 AM (GST)
|
Egypt
vs
Iran
|
|
|
7:00 AM (GST)
|
New Zealand
vs
Belgium
|
|
|
28 June, 2026
(Sunday)
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
Panama
vs
England
|
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
Croatia
vs
Ghana
|
|
|
3:30 AM (GST)
|
Colombia
vs
Portugal
|
|
|
3:30 AM (GST)
|
DR Congo
vs
Uzbekistan
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Algeria
vs
Austria
|
|
|
6:00 AM (GST)
|
Jordan
vs
Argentina
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Runner-up Group A
vs
Runner-up Group B
|
|
|
29 June, 2026
(Monday)
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Group C
vs
Runner-up Group F
|
|
30 June, 2026
(Tuesday)
|
12:30 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group E
vs
3rd Group A/B/C/D/F
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group F
vs
Runner-up Group C
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Runner-up Group E
vs
Runner-up Group I
|
|
|
1 July, 2026
(Wednesday)
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group I
vs
3rd Group C/D/F/G/H
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group A
vs
3rd Group C/E/F/H/I
|
|
|
8:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Group L
vs
3rd Group E/H/I/J/K
|
|
|
2 July, 2026
(Thursday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group G
vs
3rd Group A/E/H/I/J
|
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group D
vs
3rd Group B/E/F/I/J
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Group H
vs
Runner-up Group J
|
|
|
3 July, 2026
(Friday)
|
3:00 AM (GST)
|
Runner-up Group K
vs
Runner-up Group L
|
|
7:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group B
vs
3rd Group E/F/G/I/J
|
|
|
10:00 PM (GST)
|
Runner-up Group D
vs
Runner-up Group G
|
|
|
4 July, 2026
(Saturday)
|
2:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group J
vs
Runner-up Group H
|
|
5:30 AM (GST)
|
Winner Group K
vs
3rd Group D/E/I/J/L
|
|
|
9:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 73
vs
Winner Match 75
|
|
|
5 July, 2026
(Sunday)
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 74
vs
Winner Match 77
|
|
6 July, 2026
(Monday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 76
vs
Winner Match 78
|
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 79
vs
Winner Match 80
|
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 83
vs
Winner Match 84
|
|
|
7 July, 2026
(Tuesday)
|
4:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 81
vs
Winner Match 82
|
|
8:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 86
vs
Winner Match 88
|
|
|
8 July, 2026
(Wednesday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 85
vs
Winner Match 87
|
|
10 July, 2026
(Friday)
|
12:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 89
vs
Winner Match 90
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 93
vs
Winner Match 94
|
|
|
12 July, 2026
(Sunday)
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 91
vs
Winner Match 92
|
|
5:00 AM (GST)
|
Winner Match 95
vs
Winner Match 96
|
|
|
14 July, 2026
(Tuesday)
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 97
vs
Winner Match 98
|
|
15 July, 2026
(Wednesday)
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 99
vs
Winner Match 100
|
|
19 July, 2026
(Sunday)
|
1:00 AM (GST)
|
Loser Match 101
vs
Loser Match 102
|
|
11:00 PM (GST)
|
Winner Match 101
vs
Winner Match 102
|
🌍 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
🌐 View Schedules in Other Time Zones
❓ 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.