FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule, Live India Timings & Free Streaming Details.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially arrived! For the first time in history, three powerhouse nations—the USA, Canada, and Mexico—are co-hosting this mega football tournament. With an expanded format featuring 48 teams competing for the ultimate trophy, this is set to be the biggest World Cup ever.
If you are a football fan tuning in from India and don’t want to miss a single second of the action, here is the complete tournament schedule, accurate Indian Standard Time (IST) kick-offs, and official free live streaming details.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match Details
Opening Ceremony: June 11, 11:30 PM IST
Opening Match: Mexico vs South Africa
Match Kick-off Time: June 11, 12:30 AM IST (Technically the early morning of June 12)
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
📋 Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups & Teams
🏟️ Group A
🇲🇽 Mexico (Co-Host)
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇰🇷 South Korea
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🍁 Group B
🇨🇦 Canada (Co-Host)
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
🇶🇦 Qatar
🇨🇭 Switzerland
🦅 Group C
🇧🇷 Brazil
🇲🇦 Morocco
🇭🇹 Haiti
🏴 Scotland
🇺🇸 Group D
🇺🇸 United States (Co-Host)
🇵🇾 Paraguay
🇦🇺 Australia
🇹🇷 Türkiye
🚀 Group E
🇩🇪 Germany
🇨🇼 Curaçao
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🇪🇨 Ecuador
🇳🇱 Group F
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇯🇵 Japan
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇹🇳 Tunisia
😈 Group G
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇪🇬 Egypt
🇮🇷 Iran
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🏆 Group H
🇪🇸 Spain
🇨🇻 Cabo Verde
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🇺🇾 Uruguay
🐓 Group I
🇫🇷 France
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇮🇶 Iraq
🇳🇴 Norway
👑 Group J
🇦🇷 Argentina (Defending Champions)
🇩🇿 Algeria
🇦🇹 Austria
🇯🇴 Jordan
☕ Group K
🇨🇴 Colombia
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
🇬🇭 Ghana
🏴 England
🇵🇹 Group L
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇺🇦 Ukraine
🇲🇱 Mali
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Schedule & Key Dates
The tournament runs from June 11 all the way to the grand finale on July 19. Here is the stage-by-stage breakdown:
| Tournament Stage | Dates (IST) | Match Details |
| Group Stage Matches | June 11 – June 27, 2026 | A total of 72 matches across 16 host cities. Expect 4 action-packed matches every day. |
| Round of 32 (Knockouts) | June 28 – July 3, 2026 | Thanks to the new 48-team format, the knockout drama starts early with the top 32 teams. |
| Round of 16 | July 4 – July 7, 2026 | The surviving 16 teams face off to book their spot in the quarter-finals. |
| Quarter-Finals | July 9 – July 11, 2026 | The top 8 teams battle it out to enter the semi-final brackets. |
| Semi-Finals | July 14 & July 15, 2026 | The final four clash to decide who fights for the ultimate crown. |
| 3rd Place Play-off | July 18, 2026 | The losing semi-finalists play for the bronze spot. |
| GRAND FINAL MATCH | July 19, 2026 | The new World Champion will be crowned at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. |