The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest edition of football’s premier tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For football fans in India, keeping track of kick-off times can be challenging because most matches will take place overnight or early in the morning due to the time difference.
To help fans plan ahead, here is everything you need to know about the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule in Indian Standard Time (IST), including key dates, knockout rounds and the final.
FIFA World Cup 2026 key dates in IST
| Stage | Dates (IST) |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 12 – June 28, 2026 |
| Round of 32 | June 29 – July 4, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | July 5 – July 8, 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | July 10 – July 12, 2026 |
| Semi-finals | July 15 – July 16, 2026 |
| Third-place Match | July 19, 2026 |
| Final | July 20, 2026 |
FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Schedule India Time IST
| Date | Day | Tim (IST) | Fixtures | Venues | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 12 | Friday | 12.30 AM | Mexico vs South Africa | Mexico City |
| 2 | June 12 | Friday | 7:30 AM | South Korea vs Czechia | Zapopan |
| 3 | June 13 | Saturday | 12.30 AM | Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Toronto |
| 4 | June 13 | Saturday | 6:30 AM | USA vs Paraguay | Los Angeles |
| 5 | June 14 | Sunday | 12:30 AM | Qatar vs Switzerland | Santa Clara |
| 6 | June 14 | Sunday | 3:30 AM | Brazil vs Morocco | New Jersey |
| 7 | June 14 | Sunday | 6:30 AM | Haiti vs Scotland | Foxborough |
| 8 | June 14 | Sunday | 9:30 AM | Australia vs Turkey | Vancouver |
| 9 | June 14 | Sunday | 10:30 PM | Germany vs Curaçao | Houston |
| 10 | June 15 | Monday | 1:30 AM | Netherlands vs Japan | Arlington |
| 11 | June 15 | Monday | 4.30 AM | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | Philadelphia |
| 12 | June 15 | Monday | 7:30 AM | Sweden vs Tunisia | Guadalajara |
| 13 | June 15 | Monday | 9:30 PM | Spain vs Cape Verde | Atlanta |
| 14 | June 16 | Tuesday | 12:30 AM | Belgium vs Egypt | Seattle |
| 15 | June 16 | Tuesday | 3:30 AM | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | Miami |
| 16 | June 16 | Tuesday | 6:30 AM | Iran vs New Zealand | Los Angeles |
| 17 | June 17 | Wednesday | 12.30 AM | France vs Senegal | New Jersey |
| 18 | June 17 | Wednesday | 3:30 AM | Iraq vs Norway | Foxborough |
| 19 | June 17 | Wednesday | 6:30 AM | Argentina vs Algeria | Kansas City |
| 20 | June 17 | Wednesday | 9.30 AM | Austria vs Jordan | Santa Clara |
| 21 | June 17 | Wednesday | 10:30 PM | Portugal vs DR Congo | Houston |
| 22 | June 18 | Thursday | 1.30 AM | England vs Croatia | Arlington |
| 23 | June 18 | Thursday | 4:30 AM | Ghana vs Panama | Toronto |
| 24 | June 18 | Thursday | 7:30 AM | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | Mexico City |
| 25 | June 18 | Thursday | 9:30 PM | Czechia vs South Africa | Atlanta |
| 26 | June 19 | Friday | 12:30 AM | Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Los Angeles |
| 27 | June 19 | Friday | 3:30 AM | Canada vs Qatar | Vancouver |
| 28 | June 19 | Friday | 6.30 AM | Mexico vs South Korea | Zapopan |
| 29 | June 20 | Saturday | 12.30 AM | USA vs Australia | Seattle |
| 30 | June 20 | Saturday | 3:30 AM | Scotland vs Morocco | Foxborough |
| 31 | June 20 | Saturday | 6 AM | Brazil vs Haiti | Philadelphia |
| 32 | June 20 | Saturday | 8.30 AM | Turkey vs Paraguay | Santa Clara |
| 33 | June 20 | Saturday | 10:30 PM | Netherlands vs Sweden | Houston |
| 34 | June 21 | Sunday | 1.30 AM | Germany vs Ivory Coast | Toronto |
| 35 | June 21 | Sunday | 5.30 AM | Ecuador vs Curaçao | Kansas City |
| 36 | June 21 | Sunday | 9.30 AM | Tunisia vs Japan | Guadalajara |
| 37 | June 21 | Sunday | 9:30 PM | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
| 38 | June 22 | Monday | 12.30 AM | Belgium vs Iran | Los Angeles |
| 39 | June 22 | Monday | 3.30 AM | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | Miami |
| 40 | June 22 | Monday | 6.30 AM | New Zealand vs Egypt | Vancouver |
| 41 | June 22 | Monday | 10:30 PM | Argentina vs Austria | Arlington |
| 42 | June 23 | Tuesday | 2.30 AM | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia |
| 43 | June 23 | Tuesday | 5.30 AM | Norway vs Senegal | Toronto |
| 44 | June 23 | Tuesday | 8:30 AM | Jordan vs Algeria | Santa Clara |
| 45 | June 23 | Tuesday | 10:30 PM | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | Houston |
| 46 | June 24 | Wednesday | 1.30 AM | England vs Ghana | Foxborough |
| 47 | June 24 | Wednesday | 4:30 AM | Panama vs Croatia | Foxborough |
| 48 | June 24 | Wednesday | 7:30 AM | Colombia vs DR Congo | Zapopan |
| 49 | June 25 | Thursday | 12:30 AM | Switzerland vs Canada | Vancouver |
| 50 | June 25 | Thursday | 12:30 AM | Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar | Seattle |
| 51 | June 25 | Thursday | 3.30 AM | Morocco vs Haiti | Atlanta |
| 52 | June 25 | Thursday | 3.30 AM | Scotland vs Brazil | Miami |
| 53 | June 25 | Thursday | 6.30 AM | South Africa vs South Korea | Guadalajara |
| 54 | June 25 | Thursday | 6.30 AM | Czechia vs Mexico | Mexico City |
| 55 | June 26 | Friday | 1.30 AM | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast | Philadelphia |
| 56 | June 26 | Friday | 1.30 AM | Ecuador vs Germany | New Jersey |
| 57 | June 26 | Friday | 4.30 AM | Tunisia vs Netherlands | Kansas City |
| 58 | June 26 | Friday | 4.30 AM | Japan vs Sweden | Arlington |
| 59 | June 26 | Friday | 7:30 AM | Turkey vs USA | Los Angeles |
| 60 | June 26 | Friday | 7:30 AM | Paraguay vs Australia | Santa Clara |
| 61 | June 27 | Saturday | 12.30 AM | Norway vs France | Foxborough |
| 62 | June 27 | Saturday | 12.30 AM | Senegal vs Iraq | Toronto |
| 63 | June 27 | Saturday | 5.30 AM | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | Houston |
| 64 | June 27 | Saturday | 5.30 AM | Uruguay vs Spain | Zapopan |
| 65 | June 27 | Saturday | 8:30 AM | New Zealand vs Belgium | Vancouver |
| 66 | June 27 | Saturday | 8:30 AM | Egypt vs Iran | Seattle |
| 67 | June 28 | Sunday | 2:30 AM | Panama vs England | New Jersey |
| 68 | June 28 | Sunday | 2:30 AM | Croatia vs Ghana | Philadelphia |
| 69 | June 28 | Sunday | 5 AM | Colombia vs Portugal | Miami |
| 70 | June 28 | Sunday | 5 AM | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Atlanta |
| 71 | June 28 | Sunday | 7.30 AM | Algeria vs Austria | Kansas City |
| 72 | June 28 | Sunday | 7.30 AM | Jordan vs Argentina | Arlington |
| 73 | Jun 29 | Monday | 12:30 AM | Round of 32: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up | Los Angeles |
| 74 | June 29 | Monday | 10:30 PM | R-32: Group C winners vs Group F runners-up | Houston |
| 75 | June 30 | Tuesday | 2 AM | R-32: Group E winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Foxborough |
| 76 | June 30 | Tuesday | 6:30 AM | R-32: Group F winners vs Group C runners-up | Guadalajara |
| 77 | June 30 | Tuesday | 10.30 PM | R-32: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up | Arlington |
| 78 | July 1 | Wednesday | 2:30 AM | R-32: Group I winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | New Jersey |
| 79 | July 1 | Wednesday | 6:30 AM | R-32: Group A winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Mexico City |
| 80 | July 1 | Wednesday | 9:30 PM | R-32: Group L winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Atlanta |
| 81 | July 2 | Thursday | 1.30 AM | R-32: Group G winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Seattle |
| 82 | July 2 | Thursday | 1.30 AM | R-32: Group D winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Santa Clara |
| 83 | July 2 | Thursday | 5:30 AM | R-32: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up | Los Angeles |
| 84 | July 3 | Friday | 12:30 AM | R-32: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up | Toronto |
| 85 | July 3 | Friday | 4:30 AM | R-32: Group B winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Vancouver |
| 86 | July 3 | Friday | 8:30 AM | R-32: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up | Arlington |
| 87 | July 3 | Friday | 11.30 PM | R-32: Group J winners vs Group H runners-up | Miami |
| 88 | July 4 | Saturday | 3:30 AM | R-32: Group K winners vs Best Third-Placed Team | Kansas City |
| 89 | July 4 | Saturday | 7:00 AM | Round of 16: Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 | Houston |
| 90 | July 4 | Saturday | 10:30 PM | R16: Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 | Philadelphia |
| 91 | July 5 | Sunday | 2:30 AM | R16: Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 | New Jersey |
| 92 | July 6 | Monday | 1:30 AM | R16: Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 | Mexico City |
| 93 | July 6 | Monday | 5:30 AM | R16: Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 | Arlington |
| 94 | July 7 | Tuesday | 1:30 AM | R16: Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 | Seattle |
| 95 | July 7 | Tuesday | 9:30 PM | R16: Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 | Atlanta |
| 96 | July 8 | Wednesday | 1:30 AM | R16: Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 | Vancouver |
| 97 | July 10 | Friday | 1:30 AM | Quarterfinals: Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 | Foxborough |
| 98 | July 11 | Saturday | 12.30 AM | QF: Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 | Los Angeles |
| 99 | July 12 | Sunday | 2:30 AM | QF: Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 | Miami |
| 100 | July 12 | Sunday | 6.30 AM | QF: Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 | Kansas City |
| 101 | July 15 | Wednesday | 12.30 AM | Semifinal 1: Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 | Arlington |
| 102 | July 16 | Thursday | 12.30 AM | SF 1: Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 | Atlanta |
| 103 | July 19 | Sunday | 2:30 AM | Third Place: Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 | Miami |
| 104 | July 20 | Monday | 12.30 AM | Final: Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 | New Jerse |
Click here to download FIFA World Cup Full schedule India time IST
Why are World Cup 2026 match times different for Indian fans?
The official FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is released in Eastern Time (ET). India is 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Time during the tournament period. As a result, many afternoon and evening matches in North America will be played late at night or early morning in India.
ET to IST conversion chart
| Eastern Time (ET) | Indian Standard Time (IST) |
| 12:00 PM | 9:30 PM |
| 1:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| 3:00 PM | 12:30 AM (next day) |
| 4:00 PM | 1:30 AM (next day) |
| 5:00 PM | 2:30 AM (next day) |
| 8:00 PM | 5:30 AM (next day) |
| 9:00 PM | 6:30 AM (next day) |
| 10:00 PM | 7:30 AM (next day) |
| 11:00 PM | 8:30 AM (next day) |
FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage schedule in IST
The tournament kicks off on June 12, 2026 (IST) and runs through June 28, with matches taking place daily across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Fans in India can expect matches to be spread across four primary time slots:
- 9:30 PM IST
- 12:30 AM IST
- 3:30 AM IST
- 6:30 AM IST
The exact kick-off time depends on the host city and local scheduling.
Round of 32 schedule in IST
For the first time in World Cup history, a Round of 32 will be played due to the expanded 48-team format.
- Start date: June 29, 2026 (IST)
- End date: July 4, 2026 (IST)
- Total matches: 16
The winners advance to the Round of 16.
Round of 16 schedule in IST
The last 16 stage will be held from July 5 to July 8, 2026 (IST).
This round will feature the strongest teams from the expanded tournament and is expected to include football powerhouses such as Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Spain, Germany and Portugal if they progress from the group stage.
Quarter-final schedule in IST
The quarter-finals are scheduled between July 10 and July 12, 2026 (IST).
Only eight teams will remain in contention for football's biggest prize.
Semi-final schedule in IST
The semi-finals will take place on:
- July 15, 2026 (IST)
- July 16, 2026 (IST)
These matches will determine the finalists and the teams competing for third place.
Third-place match schedule in IST
The bronze medal match is scheduled for:
July 19, 2026 (IST)
FIFA World Cup 2026 final in IST
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for:
Date: July 20, 2026 (IST)
Kick-off time: 12:30 AM IST
The match will crown the champion of the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup.
Host countries for FIFA World Cup 2026
The tournament will be jointly hosted by:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
It will be the first World Cup hosted by three nations and the largest edition in FIFA history.
How many matches will be played in FIFA World Cup 2026?
The expanded tournament format includes:
- 48 teams
- 12 groups
- 104 matches
- 39 tournament days
This makes it the biggest FIFA World Cup ever staged.
FAQs
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start in India?
The tournament begins on June 12, 2026, according to Indian Standard Time.
What time is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in India?
The final is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 20, 2026.
How many teams will play in FIFA World Cup 2026?
A record 48 teams will participate.
How many matches are there in FIFA World Cup 2026?
There will be 104 matches across the tournament.
Which countries are hosting FIFA World Cup 2026?
The United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly hosting the tournament.
