Night or Early Morning? Here’s When FIFA World Cup 2026 Matches Will Air in India
FIFA World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know About Match Timings in IST: The FIFA World Cup 2026 will mark a new era in international football. For the first time, 48 teams will take part in the tournament, which will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The event will run from 11 June to 19 July, featuring 104 matches across 16 cities, making it the biggest World Cup in history.
The teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each. Each team will play three group matches. The top two teams from each group, along with the best 8 third-placed teams, will qualify for the Round of 32 knockout stage. Because of this new format, teams reaching the final will play 8 matches instead of 7.
The tournament will begin on 11 June (12 June in India) with Mexico facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. The final will be held on 19 July at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey, where a new world champion will be crowned.
For Indian fans, most matches will be shown late at night or early in the morning due to time differences. Common India timings will be 12:30 am, 3:30 am, 6:30 am, and some matches at 7:30 am IST. India has not qualified for this World Cup, so the national team will not be part of the tournament.
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