The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest tournament in football history, featuring 48 national teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For football fans in the United Kingdom, knowing the exact kickoff times in British Summer Time (BST) will be essential for planning their viewing schedules throughout the month-long tournament.
The competition begins on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in Mexico City at 8:00 PM BST. The tournament then continues with a packed schedule featuring multiple matches each day across North America’s iconic stadiums.
2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule – UK Time (BST)
| Date | Match | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
| June 11 | Mexico vs South Africa | 8:00 PM |
| June 12 | South Korea vs Czech Republic | 3:00 AM |
| June 12 | Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 8:00 PM |
| June 13 | USA vs Paraguay | 2:00 AM |
| June 13 | Qatar vs Switzerland | 8:00 PM |
| June 13 | Brazil vs Morocco | 11:00 PM |
| June 14 | Haiti vs Scotland | 2:00 AM |
| June 14 | Australia vs Turkey | 5:00 AM |
| June 14 | Germany vs Curacao | 6:00 PM |
| June 14 | Netherlands vs Japan | 9:00 PM |
| June 15 | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | 12:00 AM |
| June 15 | Sweden vs Tunisia | 3:00 AM |
| June 15 | Spain vs Cape Verde | 5:00 PM |
| June 15 | Belgium vs Egypt | 8:00 PM |
| June 15 | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 11:00 PM |
| June 16 | Iran vs New Zealand | 2:00 AM |
| June 16 | France vs Senegal | 8:00 PM |
| June 16 | Iraq vs Norway | 11:00 PM |
| June 17 | Argentina vs Algeria | 2:00 AM |
| June 17 | Austria vs Jordan | 5:00 AM |
| June 17 | Portugal vs DR Congo | 6:00 PM |
| June 17 | England vs Croatia | 9:00 PM |
| June 18 | Ghana vs Panama | 12:00 AM |
| June 18 | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | 3:00 AM |
| June 18 | Czech Republic vs South Africa | 5:00 PM |
| June 18 | Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | 8:00 PM |
| June 18 | Canada vs Qatar | 11:00 PM |
| June 19 | Mexico vs South Korea | 2:00 AM |
| June 19 | USA vs Australia | 8:00 PM |
| June 19 | Scotland vs Morocco | 11:00 PM |
| June 20 | Brazil vs Haiti | 1:30 AM |
| June 20 | Turkey vs Paraguay | 4:00 AM |
| June 20 | Netherlands vs Sweden | 6:00 PM |
| June 20 | Germany vs Ivory Coast | 9:00 PM |
| June 21 | Ecuador vs Curacao | 1:00 AM |
| June 21 | Tunisia vs Japan | 5:00 AM |
| June 21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 5:00 PM |
| June 21 | Belgium vs Iran | 8:00 PM |
| June 21 | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | 11:00 PM |
| June 22 | New Zealand vs Egypt | 2:00 AM |
| June 22 | Argentina vs Austria | 6:00 PM |
| June 22 | France vs Iraq | 10:00 PM |
| June 23 | Norway vs Senegal | 1:00 AM |
| June 23 | Jordan vs Algeria | 4:00 AM |
| June 23 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 6:00 PM |
| June 23 | England vs Ghana | 9:00 PM |
| June 24 | Panama vs Croatia | 12:00 AM |
| June 24 | Colombia vs DR Congo | 3:00 AM |
| June 24 | Switzerland vs Canada | 8:00 PM |
| June 24 | Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar | 8:00 PM |
| June 24 | Morocco vs Haiti | 11:00 PM |
| June 24 | Scotland vs Brazil | 11:00 PM |
| June 25 | South Africa vs South Korea | 2:00 AM |
| June 25 | Czech Republic vs Mexico | 2:00 AM |
| June 25 | Curacao vs Ivory Coast | 9:00 PM |
| June 25 | Ecuador vs Germany | 9:00 PM |
| June 26 | Tunisia vs Netherlands | 12:00 AM |
| June 26 | Japan vs Sweden | 12:00 AM |
| June 26 | Turkey vs USA | 3:00 AM |
| June 26 | Paraguay vs Australia | 3:00 AM |
| June 26 | Norway vs France | 8:00 PM |
| June 26 | Senegal vs Iraq | 8:00 PM |
| June 27 | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 1:00 AM |
| June 27 | Uruguay vs Spain | 1:00 AM |
| June 27 | New Zealand vs Belgium | 4:00 AM |
| June 27 | Egypt vs Iran | 4:00 AM |
| June 27 | Panama vs England | 10:00 PM |
| June 27 | Croatia vs Ghana | 10:00 PM |
Round of 32
| Date | Match | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
| June 28 | Match 73 | 8:00 PM |
| June 29 | Match 76 | 6:00 PM |
| June 29 | Match 74 | 9:30 PM |
| June 30 | Match 75 | 2:00 AM |
| June 30 | Match 78 | 6:00 PM |
| June 30 | Match 77 | 10:00 PM |
| July 1 | Match 79 | 2:00 AM |
| July 1 | Match 80 | 5:00 PM |
| July 1 | Match 82 | 9:00 PM |
| July 2 | Match 81 | 1:00 AM |
| July 2 | Match 84 | 8:00 PM |
| July 3 | Match 83 | 12:00 AM |
| July 3 | Match 85 | 4:00 AM |
| July 3 | Match 88 | 7:00 PM |
| July 3 | Match 86 | 11:00 PM |
| July 4 | Match 87 | 2:30 AM |
Round of 16
| Date | Match | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Match 90 | 6:00 PM |
| July 4 | Match 89 | 10:00 PM |
| July 5 | Match 91 | 9:00 PM |
| July 6 | Match 92 | 1:00 AM |
| July 6 | Match 93 | 8:00 PM |
| July 7 | Match 94 | 1:00 AM |
| July 7 | Match 95 | 5:00 PM |
| July 7 | Match 96 | 9:00 PM |
Quarter-finals, Semi-finals & Final
| Date | Match | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
| July 9 | Quarter-final 97 | 9:00 PM |
| July 10 | Quarter-final 98 | 8:00 PM |
| July 11 | Quarter-final 99 | 10:00 PM |
| July 12 | Quarter-final 100 | 2:00 AM |
| July 14 | Semi-final 101 | 8:00 PM |
| July 15 | Semi-final 102 | 8:00 PM |
| July 18 | Third-Place Playoff | 10:00 PM |
| July 19 | FIFA World Cup 2026 Final | 8:00 PM |
Key UK Matches
- England vs Croatia — June 17, 9:00 PM BST
- England vs Ghana — June 23, 9:00 PM BST
- Panama vs England — June 27, 10:00 PM BST
- Haiti vs Scotland — June 14, 2:00 AM BST
- Scotland vs Morocco — June 19, 11:00 PM BST
- Scotland vs Brazil — June 24, 11:00 PM BST
England’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule (BST)
England have been drawn into Group L and will begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia. All kickoff times below are listed in UK time (BST):
- England vs Croatia – Wednesday, June 17, 9:00 PM BST
- England vs Ghana – Tuesday, June 23, 9:00 PM BST
- Panama vs England – Saturday, June 27, 10:00 PM BST
These evening kickoffs are favorable for UK viewers, allowing fans to watch live without staying up into the early hours.
Scotland’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule (BST)
Scotland return to the global stage with three challenging Group C fixtures:
- Haiti vs Scotland – Sunday, June 14, 2:00 AM BST
- Scotland vs Morocco – Friday, June 19, 11:00 PM BST
- Scotland vs Brazil – Wednesday, June 24, 11:00 PM BST
The match against Brazil is expected to be one of the most anticipated group-stage games involving a British nation.
Biggest Group Stage Matches for UK Fans
Several blockbuster fixtures stand out during the opening phase of the tournament:
- USA vs Paraguay – June 13, 2:00 AM BST
- Brazil vs Morocco – June 13, 11:00 PM BST
- Germany vs Curacao – June 14, 6:00 PM BST
- Spain vs Cape Verde – June 15, 5:00 PM BST
- France vs Senegal – June 16, 8:00 PM BST
- Argentina vs Algeria – June 17, 2:00 AM BST
- Portugal vs DR Congo – June 17, 6:00 PM BST
With matches spread across multiple time zones, UK viewers will enjoy a mix of afternoon, evening, and late-night football action.
Knockout Stage Schedule
The knockout rounds begin on June 28 with the newly expanded Round of 32. The Round of 16 follows from July 4 to July 7, while the quarter-finals are scheduled between July 9 and July 12.
The semi-finals will be played on:
- July 14 – Arlington, Texas
- July 15 – Atlanta, Georgia
The Third-Place Playoff takes place on July 18 in Miami.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Kickoff Time (BST)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the iconic stadium in New Jersey, USA. The championship match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM BST, making it a prime-time event for football fans across the United Kingdom.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises unforgettable moments, thrilling rivalries, and historic matches. With convenient evening kickoff times for many major fixtures, UK supporters will have plenty of opportunities to follow England, Scotland, and the world’s best teams throughout the tournament. As the countdown continues, fans should mark their calendars and prepare for one of the most exciting World Cups ever staged.