FIFA World Cup 2026: Format, groups, full schedule, India match timings, where to watch, and everything you need to know

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to usher in a new era for international football, with the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the month-long spectacle will run from June 11 to July 19 (June 12-July 20 as per Indian time), featuring a record 104 matches across 16 host cities.

The expanded format means more teams, more matches and a longer knockout stage, making the 2026 edition the biggest World Cup ever staged.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Format Explained

A total of 48 nations have been divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Every team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group progressing automatically to the knockout rounds.

In addition, the eight best third-placed teams will also qualify, taking the number of teams in the knockout phase to 32.

The introduction of a Round of 32 means teams that reach the final will now have to play eight matches instead of seven.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule

Stage	Dates
Group Stage	June 11-27
Round of 32	June 28-July 3
Round of 16	July 4-7
Quarter-finals	July 9-11
Semi-finals	July 14-15
Third-place Playoff	July 18
Final	July 19

FIFA Opening Match

The tournament will begin on June 11 (June 12 in India), with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

FIFA Final Venue

The World Cup final is scheduled to take place on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), where the champions of the world's biggest football tournament will be crowned.

India Match Timings (IST)

Indian football fans should be prepared for some late nights, as most matches will be played in the overnight and early-morning hours because of the time difference between India and the host nations.

Most games are expected to kick off at one of the following time slots:

• 12:30 AM IST
• 3:30 AM IST
• 6:30 AM IST
• 7:30 AM IST (selected matches)

The opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa is expected to start at around 12:30 AM IST on June 12.

Key Group Stage Dates

Matchday 1: June 11-17

Matchday 2: June 18-23

Matchday 3: June 24-27

Among the standout group-stage encounters are England vs Croatia, Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Norway and Spain vs Uruguay, all of which are expected to draw significant global attention.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups

Group	Teams
Group A	Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia
Group B	Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C	Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D	United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E	Germany, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Curaçao
Group F	Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G	Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand
Group H	Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
Group I	France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J	Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K	Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Congo DR
Group L	England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Has India Qualified?

India will not be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after failing to secure qualification. However, Indian fans will still have plenty to follow, including several players of Indian origin who could feature for their respective national teams.

With a record 48 teams, 104 matches and three host countries, FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to deliver the most expansive and ambitious edition of the tournament yet.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage fixtures (India Time)

Date	Group	Match	Time (IST)
Jun 12	A	Mexico vs South Africa	12:30 AM
Jun 12	A	South Korea vs Czechia	7:30 AM
Jun 13	B	Canada vs Bosnia	12:30 AM
Jun 13	D	USA vs Paraguay	6:30 AM
Jun 14	B	Qatar vs Switzerland	12:30 AM
Jun 14	C	Brazil vs Morocco	3:30 AM
Jun 14	C	Haiti vs Scotland	6:30 AM
Jun 14	D	Australia vs Türkiye	9:30 AM
Jun 14	E	Germany vs Curaçao	10:30 PM
Jun 15	F	Netherlands vs Japan	1:30 AM
Jun 15	E	Ivory Coast vs Ecuador	4:30 AM
Jun 15	F	Sweden vs Tunisia	7:30 AM
Jun 15	H	Spain vs Cape Verde	9:30 PM
Jun 16	G	Belgium vs Egypt	12:30 AM
Jun 16	H	Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay	3:30 AM
Jun 16	G	Iran vs New Zealand	6:30 AM
Jun 16	I	France vs Senegal	12:30 AM
Jun 16	I	Iraq vs Norway	3:30 AM
Jun 17	J	Argentina vs Algeria	6:30 AM
Jun 17	J	Austria vs Jordan	9:30 AM
Jun 17	K	Portugal vs DR Congo	10:30 PM
Jun 17	L	England vs Croatia	1:30 AM
Jun 18	L	Ghana vs Panama	4:30 AM
Jun 18	K	Uzbekistan vs Colombia	7:30 AM
Jun 18	A	Czechia vs South Africa	9:30 PM
Jun 19	B	Switzerland vs Bosnia	12:30 AM
Jun 19	B	Canada vs Qatar	3:30 AM
Jun 19	A	Mexico vs South Korea	6:30 AM
Jun 19	D	USA vs Australia	12:30 AM
Jun 19	C	Scotland vs Morocco	3:30 AM
Jun 20	C	Brazil vs Haiti	6:00 AM
Jun 20	D	Türkiye vs Paraguay	8:30 AM
Jun 20	F	Netherlands vs Sweden	10:30 PM
Jun 21	E	Germany vs Ivory Coast	1:30 AM
Jun 21	E	Ecuador vs Curaçao	5:30 AM
Jun 21	F	Tunisia vs Japan	9:30 AM
Jun 21	H	Spain vs Saudi Arabia	9:30 PM
Jun 22	G	Belgium vs Iran	12:30 AM
Jun 22	H	Uruguay vs Cape Verde	3:30 AM
Jun 22	G	New Zealand vs Egypt	6:30 AM
Jun 22	J	Argentina vs Austria	10:30 PM
Jun 23	I	France vs Iraq	2:30 AM
Jun 23	I	Norway vs Senegal	5:30 AM
Jun 23	J	Jordan vs Algeria	8:30 AM
Jun 23	K	Portugal vs Uzbekistan	10:30 PM
Jun 24	L	England vs Ghana	1:30 AM
Jun 24	L	Panama vs Croatia	4:30 AM
Jun 24	K	Colombia vs DR Congo	7:30 AM
Jun 25	B	Switzerland vs Canada	12:30 AM
Jun 25	B	Bosnia vs Qatar	12:30 AM
Jun 25	C	Morocco vs Haiti	3:30 AM
Jun 25	C	Scotland vs Brazil	3:30 AM
Jun 25	A	South Africa vs South Korea	6:30 AM
Jun 25	A	Czechia vs Mexico	6:30 AM
Jun 26	E	Curaçao vs Ivory Coast	1:30 AM
Jun 26	E	Ecuador vs Germany	1:30 AM
Jun 26	F	Tunisia vs Netherlands	4:30 AM
Jun 26	F	Japan vs Sweden	4:30 AM
Jun 26	D	Türkiye vs USA	7:30 AM
Jun 26	D	Paraguay vs Australia	7:30 AM
Jun 27	I	Norway vs France	12:30 AM
Jun 27	I	Senegal vs Iraq	12:30 AM
Jun 27	H	Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia	5:30 AM
Jun 27	H	Uruguay vs Spain	5:30 AM
Jun 27	G	New Zealand vs Belgium	8:30 AM
Jun 27	G	Egypt vs Iran	8:30 AM
Jun 28	L	Panama vs England	2:30 AM
Jun 28	L	Croatia vs Ghana	2:30 AM
Jun 28	K	Colombia vs Portugal	5:00 AM
Jun 28	K	DR Congo vs Uzbekistan	5:00 AM
Jun 28	J	Algeria vs Austria	7:30 AM
Jun 28	J	Jordan vs Argentina	7:30 AM

WHERE TO WATCH

Unite8 Sports and Zee5