2026 World Cup Opening Time & Key Dates

Tournament: 2026 FIFA World Cup (23rd Edition)
Host Nations: United States · Canada · Mexico
Tournament Dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026 (Local Time)

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🎤 Opening Ceremony & Kickoff Time

• Opening Ceremony (Local Time): June 11, 2026 · 5:30 PM (Mexico City Time / Central Time)
• Opening Match Kickoff (Local Time): June 11, 2026 · 6:00 PM CT
• Opening Match: 🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇿🇦 South Africa
• Venue: Mexico City · Estadio Azteca

⏰ Time Zone References

• Eastern Time (ET): June 11, 2026 · 7:00 PM
• Central Time (CT) - Local Mexico City: June 11, 2026 · 6:00 PM
• Mountain Time (MT): June 11, 2026 · 5:00 PM
• Pacific Time (PT): June 11, 2026 · 4:00 PM
• Beijing Time (UTC+8): June 12, 2026 · 7:00 AM
• Spain Time (CEST): June 12, 2026 · 2:00 AM
• UK Time (BST): June 12, 2026 · 1:00 AM

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🏆 Final Match Time

• Final Kickoff (Local Time): July 19, 2026 · 7:00 PM (Eastern Time ET)
• Venue: New York/New Jersey · MetLife Stadium
• Beijing Time: July 20, 2026 · 7:00 AM
• Spain Time (CEST): July 20, 2026 · 1:00 AM
• UK Time (BST): July 20, 2026 · 12:00 AM (midnight)

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📅 Tournament Timeline (US Local Dates)

• Group Stage: June 11 – June 27, 2026
• Round of 32 (Last 32): June 30 – July 3, 2026
• Round of 16: July 6 – July 9, 2026
• Quarter-finals: July 11 – July 12, 2026
• Semi-finals: July 14 – July 15, 2026
• Third-Place Match: July 18, 2026
• Final: July 19, 2026

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📌 Important Notes

• The Opening Ceremony and Opening Match take place consecutively at the same venue. The ceremony lasts approximately 30 minutes.
• 48 teams will compete in 104 matches.
• Group stage matches are scheduled daily with kickoff times around 1:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 10:00 PM (local time in each host city).
• Eastern Time (ET) is the primary reference for US-based viewers. Most matches will be played in the evening ET (primetime).

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Source: FIFA official schedule. Kickoff times are subject to minor adjustments based on broadcast scheduling. Please refer to the final official announcement.