Qatar World Cup 2026

Since the FIFA World Cup’s humble inception in 1930, when Uruguay only invited 13 teams for the first tournament, it has developed into the most powerful spectacle in global sport. Currently, it is the biggest standalone event on the football calendar, attracting the eyeballs of billions and dictating the flow of summers across the continents. The transformation will not stop here since in 2026 the tournament will feature 48 teams, thus bringing about the most ambitious World Cup arrangement so far.

Over time, the event has been characterized by legendary performers, nail-biting finals, and the turn of events that have rewritten football history. Although Europe and South America have traditionally been the leaders, a present, day World Cup conveys a more diverse narrative. Besides being mere ‘participants,’ teams from Asia, Africa, and North America have become ‘contenders,’ regularly reaching the later stages and thus changing the competitive balance.

For the Middle East, this worldwide change has already been a real and palpable experience. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which the Wall Street Journal describes as “A Rich Gulf State Offers a Grand Show for the World,” was a great achievement for the local football industry, thanks to the excellent facilities put in place. Moreover, it’s likely to open doors for other Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, which has been announced as the World Cup host for 2034 and thus will continue the growing regional prominence within the global football scene.

The 48-team extension in 2026 is the most visible sign of this new world. More nations, more matches, and wider representation facilitate the rise of many thus far less recognized football countries. For the Middle East, type regions, it is a sort of confirmation that the World Cup ceases to be “owned” by a few major powers but becomes truly worldwide in scope and purpose.

Here are some of the recent FIFA World Cup Winners:

Arabia Standard Time (AST) operates at UTC +3 and is used year-round across several Middle Eastern countries. Unlike many regions, AST does not observe daylight saving time, ensuring stable and predictable kick-off times throughout the World Cup.

• Saudi Arabia (uses its own time called Saudi Arabia Standard Time, which is the same as Arabia Standard Time)
• Qatar
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Yemen
• Iraq

If your local time matches cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Doha, Amman, or Kuwait City, this AST-based schedule applies directly to you.

Saudi Arabia is the most highly experienced World Cup team from the Arabia region. Besides being regular players at FIFA World Cup since 1994, the Green Falcons made it clear that they had matured immediately by achieving the Round of 16 in their very first tournament, which was a historic moment in Asian football. Nowadays, they are best known for their organisation, tactical discipline, and the fact that they always give a good account of themselves even against the teams that are considered better on paper. The truth of that was proved once again in 2022 when they upset eventual champions Argentina, one of the main stories of the tournament. Saudi Arabia, as they prepare for 2026, are determined to use their experience as a stepping stone to being able to advance further than the group stage on a consistent basis.

Qatar are about to enter the tournament from a position that is very different but equally significant. Hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they took on the responsibilities of putting on the biggest event in football for the first time ever in the Arab world. On the pitch, it was not easy, but hosting had a very profound impact on the future of this nation. With investments made in infrastructure and exposure to top, level competition as well as a crystal, clear development pathway, Qatari football has been transformed. Having matured as Asian Cup holders and no longer considered as newcomers to the World Cup scene, Qatar will be in 2026 with more confidence and a well, defined goal which is to convert their regional supremacy into good results on the world stage.

Jordan, on the other hand, are that breakthrough story of the Arab nations. Their qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first time the country has ever been to the tournament and a huge milestone for the national team. Jordan’s rise to the top was a result of tactical discipline, steady growth, and faith that was maintained through regular Asian competition performances. It goes to show the extent of development that has taken place in the region.

Here the encounter is with a larger 48-team format and that means more possibilities for the three teams to compete for a position in the knockout rounds. Saudi Arabia is experienced with several World Cup participations behind their back, Qatar is capitalizing on the legacy of the 2022 tournament, and Jordan is coming off a qualification that has made history.

For viewers in Arabia Standard Time, most matches will kick off between the late evening and early morning hours. Group-stage fixtures often extend past midnight, while knockout matches typically fall into more comfortable late-night slots.

The opening match between Mexico and South Africa begins on 11 June 2026 at 10:00 PM (AST), while the final will be played on 19 July 2026 at 10:00 PM (AST).

NEXT MATCH

Paraguay Jul 5 12:00 AM (+03:00) France

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Group

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Round of 32

3

Round of 16

4

Quarter Finals

5

Semi Finals

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3^rd Place

7

Final

Today's Matches 3

Filter Matches: Select Category Team Venue Stage Reset

Timezone: Arabia Standard Time (AST) +03:00

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Date	Time	Team 1 Score Team 2
11 June, 2026 Thursday	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Mexico 2 - 0 South Africa Mexico City Match No. 1 Group A
12 June, 2026 Friday	5:00 AM (AST) FT	South Korea 2 - 1 Czechia Guadalajara Match No. 2 Group A
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Canada 1 - 1 Bosnia Toronto Match No. 3 Group B
13 June, 2026 Saturday	4:00 AM (AST) FT	USA 4 - 1 Paraguay Los Angeles Match No. 4 Group D
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Qatar 1 - 1 Switzerland SF Bay Area Match No. 8 Group B
14 June, 2026 Sunday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Brazil 1 - 1 Morocco New York Match No. 7 Group C
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Haiti 0 - 1 Scotland Boston Match No. 5 Group C
	7:00 AM (AST) FT	Australia 2 - 0 Turkey Vancouver Match No. 6 Group D
	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Germany 7 - 1 Curaçao Houston Match No. 10 Group E
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	Netherlands 2 - 2 Japan Dallas Match No. 11 Group F
15 June, 2026 Monday	2:00 AM (AST) FT	Ivory Coast 1 - 0 Ecuador Philadelphia Match No. 9 Group E
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Sweden 5 - 1 Tunisia Monterrey Match No. 12 Group F
	7:00 PM (AST) FT	Spain 0 - 0 Cape Verde Atlanta Match No. 14 Group H
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Belgium 1 - 1 Egypt Seattle Match No. 16 Group G
16 June, 2026 Tuesday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Saudi Arabia 1 - 1 Uruguay Miami Match No. 13 Group H
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Iran 2 - 2 New Zealand Los Angeles Match No. 15 Group G
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	France 3 - 1 Senegal New York Match No. 17 Group I
17 June, 2026 Wednesday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Iraq 1 - 4 Norway Boston Match No. 18 Group I
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Argentina 3 - 0 Algeria Kansas City Match No. 19 Group J
	7:00 AM (AST) FT	Austria 3 - 1 Jordan SF Bay Area Match No. 20 Group J
	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Portugal 1 - 1 DR Congo Houston Match No. 23 Group K
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	England 4 - 2 Croatia Dallas Match No. 22 Group L
18 June, 2026 Thursday	2:00 AM (AST) FT	Ghana 1 - 0 Panama Toronto Match No. 21 Group L
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Uzbekistan 1 - 3 Colombia Mexico City Match No. 24 Group K
	7:00 PM (AST) FT	Czechia 1 - 1 South Africa Atlanta Match No. 25 Group A
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Switzerland 4 - 1 Bosnia Los Angeles Match No. 26 Group B
19 June, 2026 Friday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Canada 6 - 0 Qatar Vancouver Match No. 27 Group B
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Mexico 1 - 0 South Korea Guadalajara Match No. 28 Group A
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	USA 2 - 0 Australia Seattle Match No. 32 Group D
20 June, 2026 Saturday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Scotland 0 - 1 Morocco Boston Match No. 30 Group C
	3:30 AM (AST) FT	Brazil 3 - 0 Haiti Philadelphia Match No. 29 Group C
	6:00 AM (AST) FT	Turkey 0 - 1 Paraguay SF Bay Area Match No. 31 Group D
	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Netherlands 5 - 1 Sweden Houston Match No. 35 Group F
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	Germany 2 - 1 Ivory Coast Toronto Match No. 33 Group E
21 June, 2026 Sunday	3:00 AM (AST) FT	Ecuador 0 - 0 Curaçao Kansas City Match No. 34 Group E
	7:00 AM (AST) FT	Tunisia 0 - 4 Japan Monterrey Match No. 36 Group F
	7:00 PM (AST) FT	Spain 4 - 0 Saudi Arabia Atlanta Match No. 38 Group H
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Belgium 0 - 0 Iran Los Angeles Match No. 39 Group G
22 June, 2026 Monday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Uruguay 2 - 2 Cape Verde Miami Match No. 37 Group H
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	New Zealand 1 - 3 Egypt Vancouver Match No. 40 Group G
	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Argentina 2 - 0 Austria Dallas Match No. 43 Group J
23 June, 2026 Tuesday	12:00 AM (AST) FT	France 3 - 0 Iraq Philadelphia Match No. 42 Group I
	3:00 AM (AST) FT	Norway 3 - 2 Senegal New York Match No. 41 Group I
	6:00 AM (AST) FT	Jordan 1 - 2 Algeria SF Bay Area Match No. 44 Group J
	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Portugal 5 - 0 Uzbekistan Houston Match No. 47 Group K
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	England 0 - 0 Ghana Boston Match No. 45 Group L
24 June, 2026 Wednesday	2:00 AM (AST) FT	Panama 0 - 1 Croatia Toronto Match No. 46 Group L
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Colombia 1 - 0 DR Congo Guadalajara Match No. 48 Group K
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Switzerland 2 - 1 Canada Vancouver Match No. 51 Group B
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Bosnia 3 - 1 Qatar Seattle Match No. 52 Group B
25 June, 2026 Thursday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Scotland 0 - 3 Brazil Miami Match No. 49 Group C
	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Morocco 4 - 2 Haiti Atlanta Match No. 50 Group C
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Czechia 0 - 3 Mexico Mexico City Match No. 53 Group A
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	South Africa 1 - 0 South Korea Monterrey Match No. 54 Group A
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	Curaçao 0 - 2 Ivory Coast Philadelphia Match No. 55 Group E
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	Ecuador 2 - 1 Germany New York Match No. 56 Group E
26 June, 2026 Friday	2:00 AM (AST) FT	Japan 1 - 1 Sweden Dallas Match No. 57 Group F
	2:00 AM (AST) FT	Tunisia 1 - 3 Netherlands Kansas City Match No. 58 Group F
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Turkey 3 - 2 USA Los Angeles Match No. 59 Group D
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Paraguay 0 - 0 Australia SF Bay Area Match No. 60 Group D
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Norway 1 - 4 France Boston Match No. 61 Group I
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Senegal 5 - 0 Iraq Toronto Match No. 62 Group I
27 June, 2026 Saturday	3:00 AM (AST) FT	Cape Verde 0 - 0 Saudi Arabia Houston Match No. 65 Group H
	3:00 AM (AST) FT	Uruguay 0 - 1 Spain Guadalajara Match No. 66 Group H
	6:00 AM (AST) FT	Egypt 1 - 1 Iran Seattle Match No. 63 Group G
	6:00 AM (AST) FT	New Zealand 1 - 5 Belgium Vancouver Match No. 64 Group G
28 June, 2026 Sunday	12:00 AM (AST) FT	Panama 0 - 2 England New York Match No. 67 Group L
	12:00 AM (AST) FT	Croatia 2 - 1 Ghana Philadelphia Match No. 68 Group L
	2:30 AM (AST) FT	Colombia 0 - 0 Portugal Miami Match No. 71 Group K
	2:30 AM (AST) FT	DR Congo 3 - 1 Uzbekistan Atlanta Match No. 72 Group K
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Algeria 3 - 3 Austria Kansas City Match No. 69 Group J
	5:00 AM (AST) FT	Jordan 1 - 3 Argentina Dallas Match No. 70 Group J
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	South Africa 0 - 1 Canada Los Angeles Match No. 73 Round of 32
29 June, 2026 Monday	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Brazil 2 - 1 Japan Houston Match No. 76 Round of 32
	11:30 PM (AST) FT	Germany 1 - 1 (3 - 4 Pen.) Paraguay Boston Match No. 74 Round of 32
30 June, 2026 Tuesday	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Netherlands 1 - 1 (2 - 3 Pen.) Morocco Monterrey Match No. 75 Round of 32
	8:00 PM (AST) FT	Ivory Coast 1 - 2 Norway Dallas Match No. 78 Round of 32
1 July, 2026 Wednesday	12:00 AM (AST) FT	France 3 - 0 Sweden New York Match No. 77 Round of 32
	4:00 AM (AST) FT	Mexico 2 - 0 Ecuador Mexico City Match No. 79 Round of 32
	7:00 PM (AST) FT	England 2 - 1 DR Congo Atlanta Match No. 80 Round of 32
	11:00 PM (AST) FT	Belgium 3 - 2 (AET) Senegal Seattle Match No. 82 Round of 32
2 July, 2026 Thursday	3:00 AM (AST) FT	USA 2 - 0 Bosnia SF Bay Area Match No. 81 Round of 32
	10:00 PM (AST) FT	Spain 3 - 0 Austria Los Angeles Match No. 84 Round of 32
3 July, 2026 Friday	2:00 AM (AST) FT	Portugal 2 - 1 Croatia Toronto Match No. 83 Round of 32
	6:00 AM (AST) FT	Switzerland 2 - 0 Algeria Vancouver Match No. 85 Round of 32
	9:00 PM (AST) FT	Australia 1 - 1 (2 - 4 Pen.) Egypt Dallas Match No. 88 Round of 32
Today 4 July, 2026 Saturday	1:00 AM (AST) FT	Argentina 3 - 2 (AET) Cape Verde Miami Match No. 86 Round of 32
	4:30 AM (AST) FT	Colombia 1 - 0 Ghana Kansas City Match No. 87 Round of 32
	8:00 PM (AST)	Canada vs Morocco Houston Match No. 90 Round of 16
5 July, 2026 Sunday	12:00 AM (AST)	Paraguay vs NEXT MATCH France Philadelphia Match No. 89 Round of 16
	11:00 PM (AST)	Brazil vs Norway New York Match No. 91 Round of 16
6 July, 2026 Monday	3:00 AM (AST)	Mexico vs England Mexico City Match No. 92 Round of 16
	10:00 PM (AST)	Portugal vs Spain Dallas Match No. 93 Round of 16
7 July, 2026 Tuesday	3:00 AM (AST)	USA vs Belgium Seattle Match No. 94 Round of 16
	7:00 PM (AST)	Argentina vs Egypt Atlanta Match No. 95 Round of 16
	11:00 PM (AST)	Switzerland vs Colombia Vancouver Match No. 96 Round of 16
9 July, 2026 Thursday	11:00 PM (AST)	Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 Boston Match No. 97 Quarterfinals
10 July, 2026 Friday	10:00 PM (AST)	Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 Los Angeles Match No. 98 Quarterfinals
12 July, 2026 Sunday	12:00 AM (AST)	Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 Miami Match No. 99 Quarterfinals
	4:00 AM (AST)	Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 Kansas City Match No. 100 Quarterfinals
14 July, 2026 Tuesday	10:00 PM (AST)	Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 Dallas Match No. 101 Semifinals
15 July, 2026 Wednesday	10:00 PM (AST)	Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 Atlanta Match No. 102 Semifinals
19 July, 2026 Sunday	12:00 AM (AST)	Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 Miami Match No. 103 3rd Place
	10:00 PM (AST)	Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 New York Match No. 104 Final

• beIN Sports MENA – Exclusive broadcaster across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan
• beIN CONNECT – Official streaming platform
• FIFA+ – Highlights, replays, and official content

You can also explore our global FIFA World Cup 2026 Watch Guide for broadcasters, TV channels, and live streaming platforms across different countries.

Are all kick-off times shown in AST?
Yes. Every match on this page is displayed in Arabian Standard Time.

Does any AST country observe daylight saving time?
No. AST remains unchanged year-round.

Which teams from AST are playing in 2026?
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan.

When is the World Cup final in AST?
19 July 2026 at 10:00 PM (AST).