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World Cup 2026: What time can fans in Europe, Middle East and Africa watch?
TL;DR
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature matches across four North American time zones, resulting in 13 different kickoff times. Fans in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa can check local timings for matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19.
Key points
- FIFA World Cup 2026 matches across four North American time zones
- 13 different kickoff times for the tournament
- Matches held from June 11 to July 19, 2026
- Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Time zones involved
- Al Jazeera Sport widget available for local time conversions
With FIFA World Cup 2026 matches spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada, the kickoff timings will vary significantly during the June 11-July 19 tournament.
Held in 16 venues in 16 cities, matches will be played across four time zones in North America:
- Eastern Time (GMT-4)
- Central Time (GMT-5)
- Mountain Time (GMT-6)
- Pacific Time (GMT-7)
As a result, the 2026 World Cup will have 13 different kickoff times. You can use the Al Jazeera Sport widget to find out exactly when your team is playing in your local time.
What time are World Cup matches in Europe?
Fans in Europe have to brace themselves for late nights or early mornings, at least for the beginning two and a half weeks of the tournament.
World Cup matches kick off as early as midnight for fans in the United Kingdom, or at 1am in Germany, Spain, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, among others.
There are also matches that begin at 3am BST/4am CEST, and 5am BST/6am CEST.
As many as 35 group-stage matches – almost half of the opening round – kick off between midnight and 5am in the UK.
Some of the knockout-round matches are also not at favourable timings, but European viewers will be relieved to know the semifinals and final are at 8pm BST/9pm CEST.
Sixteen European teams, including pre-tournament favourites Spain, France and England, will play at the World Cup.
England are one of the pre-tournament favourites to lift the World Cup, according to bookmakers [File: Andrew Boyers/Reuters]
What time will the World Cup be in the Middle East?
Q&A
What are the kickoff times for World Cup 2026 matches in Europe?
Kickoff times for World Cup 2026 matches in Europe will vary based on the North American time zones, with 13 different times scheduled.
How can I find out the match times for the World Cup 2026 in my local time zone?
You can use the Al Jazeera Sport widget to find out the exact match times for the World Cup 2026 in your local time zone.
What time zones will the World Cup 2026 matches be played in?
World Cup 2026 matches will be played in Eastern Time (GMT-4), Central Time (GMT-5), Mountain Time (GMT-6), and Pacific Time (GMT-7).
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 take place?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
