The 2026 FIFA World Cup will offer fans a wide range of kick-off times, with matches starting as early as 05:00 BST due to time zone differences across the three host nations—Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The tournament will be staged across 16 cities and four time zones, forcing organisers to balance player welfare, local climate conditions and global viewership. As a result, there will be 13 different match start times.
For European viewers, this means 35 group-stage matches—almost half—will kick off between 00:00 and 05:00 BST. The most common kick-off time, however, will be 20:00 BST.
England begin Group L against Croatia on 17 June in Dallas at 22:00 BST, followed by Ghana in Boston at 21:00 BST on 23 June, and Panama in New Jersey at 22:00 BST on 27 June.
Scotland face a more demanding schedule, opening their Group C campaign against Haiti in Boston at 02:00 BST on 14 June, before playing Morocco on 19 June and five-time champions Brazil on 24 June, both at 23:00 BST.
Some of the tournament’s standout fixtures will also take place in the early hours, including Uruguay v Spain at 01:00 BST on 27 June and a possible Lionel Messi outing for Argentina v Jordan at 03:00 BST on 28 June.
The expanded 48-team World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July. Hosts Mexico will open the competition against South Africa at 20:00 BST in Mexico City, while the final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, also at 20:00 BST on 19 July.