The countdown is finally over. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to kick off on June 12 (IST), ushering in the biggest edition in the tournament’s history. For the first time ever, 48 teams will compete for football’s ultimate prize across 104 matches, making it the largest World Cup since the competition began in 1930.
Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the month-long spectacle will conclude with the final on July 20 (IST) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Although India has not qualified for the tournament, millions of Indian fans are expected to follow the action featuring global superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Vinicius Jr. After uncertainty over broadcasting rights, Indian viewers can now watch every match live on television and digital platforms.
Where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV in India?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be televised on the Unite8 Sports Network.
The channels are:
- Unite8 Sports 1 (Hindi)
- Unite8 Sports 1 HD (Hindi)
- Unite8 Sports 2 (English)
- Unite8 Sports 2 HD (English)
Where to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 live streaming in India?
Fans can stream every match live on:
- ZEE5 app
- ZEE5 website
- Smart TVs, laptops and mobile devices through the platform
FIFA World Cup 2026 format explained
The 2026 edition introduces a completely new structure.
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups
- 4 teams in each group
- Top two teams from every group qualify automatically
- The eight best third-placed teams also advance
- This creates a Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final
In total, the tournament will feature 104 matches, the highest ever in FIFA World Cup history.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage schedule (IST)
Friday, June 12
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, 12:30 AM IST – Mexico City
Group A: South Korea vs Czechia, 7:30 AM IST – Zapopan
Saturday, June 13
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12:30 AM IST – Toronto
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 6:30 AM IST – Los Angeles
Sunday, June 14
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 12:30 AM IST – Santa Clara
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 3:30 AM IST – New Jersey
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 6:30 AM IST – Foxboroug
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 9:30 AM IST – Vancouver
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, 10:30 PM IST – Houston
Monday, June 15
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 1:30 AM IST – Arlington
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, 4:30 AM IST – Philadelphia
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, 7:30 AM IST – Guadalajara
Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, 9:30 PM IST – Atlanta
Tuesday, June 16
Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, 12:30 AM IST – Seattle
Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, 3:30 AM IST – Miami
Group G: Iran vs New Zealand, 6:30 AM IST – Los Angeles
Wednesday, June 17
Group I: France vs Senegal, 12:30 AM IST – New Jersey
Group I: Iraq vs Norway, 3:30 AM IST – Foxborough
Group J: Argentina vs Algeria, 6:30 AM IST – Kansas City
Group J: Austria vs Jordan, 9:30 AM IST – Santa Clara
Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo, 10:30 PM IST – Houston
Thursday, June 18
Group L: England vs Croatia, 1:30 AM IST – Arlington
Group L: Ghana vs Panama, 4:30 AM IST – Toronto
Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, 7:30 AM IST – Mexico City
Thursday, June 18
Group A: Czechia vs South Africa, 9:30 PM IST – Atlanta
Friday, June 19
Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 12:30 AM IST – Los Angeles
Group B: Canada vs Qatar, 3:30 AM IST – Vancouver
Group A: Mexico vs South Korea, 6:30 AM IST – Zapopan
Saturday, June 20
Group D: USA vs Australia, 12:30 AM IST – Seattle
Group C: Scotland vs Morocco, 3:30 AM IST – Foxborough
Group C: Brazil vs Haiti, 6:00 AM IST – Philadelphia
Group D: Turkey vs Paraguay, 8:30 AM IST – Santa Clara
Group F: Netherlands vs Sweden, 10:30 PM IST – Houston
Sunday, June 21
Group E: Germany vs Ivory Coast, 1:30 AM IST – Toronto
Group E: Ecuador vs Curaçao, 5:30 AM IST – Kansas City
Group F: Tunisia vs Japan, 9:30 AM IST – Guadalajar
Group H: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 9:30 PM IST – Atlanta
Monday, June 22
Group G: Belgium vs Iran, 12:30 AM IST – Los Angeles
Group H: Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 3:30 AM IST – Miami
Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, 6:30 AM IST – Vancouver
Group J: Argentina vs Austria, 10:30 PM IST – Arlington
Tuesday, June 23
Group I: France vs Iraq, 2:30 AM IST – Philadelphia
Group I: Norway vs Senegal, 5:30 AM IST – Toronto
Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, 8:30 AM IST – Santa Clara
Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 10:30 PM IST – Houston
Wednesday, June 24
Group L: England vs Ghana, 1:30 AM IST – Foxborough
Group L: Panama vs Croatia, 4:30 AM IST – Foxboroug
Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo, 7:30 AM IST – Zapopan
Thursday, June 25
Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, 12:30 AM IST – Vancouver
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar, 12:30 AM IST – Seattle
Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, 3:30 AM IST – Atlant
Group C: Scotland vs Brazil, 3:30 AM IST – Miami
Group A: South Africa vs South Korea, 6:30 AM IST – Guadalajara
Group A: Czechia vs Mexico, 6:30 AM IST – Mexico City
Friday, June 26
Group E: Curaçao vs Ivory Coast, 1:30 AM IST – Philadelphia
Group E: Ecuador vs Germany, 1:30 AM IST – New Jerse
Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, 4:30 AM IST – Kansas City
Group F: Japan vs Sweden, 4:30 AM IST – Arlington
Group D: Turkey vs USA, 7:30 AM IST – Los Angeles
Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, 7:30 AM IST – Santa Clara
Saturday, June 27
Group I: Norway vs France, 12:30 AM IST – Foxboroug
Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, 12:30 AM IST – Toronto
Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, 5:30 AM IST – Housto
Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, 5:30 AM IST – Zapopan
Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, 8:30 AM IST – Vancouver
Group G: Egypt vs Iran, 8:30 AM IST – Seattle
Sunday, June 28
Group L: Panama vs England, 2:30 AM IST – New Jersey
Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, 2:30 AM IST – Philadelphia
Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, 5:00 AM IST – Miami
Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, 5:00 AM IST – Atlanta
Group J: Algeria vs Austria, 7:30 AM IST – Kansas City
Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, 7:30 AM IST – Arlington
Knockout stage schedule
Round of 32: June 29 – July 4
Round of 16: July 4 – July 8
Quarter-finals: July 10 – July 12
Semi-finals: July 15 and July 16
Third-place playoff: July 19
Final: July 20 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
With Lionel Messi’s Argentina aiming to defend their crown and football giants including Brazil, France, England, Spain and Portugal chasing glory, the FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to be the biggest and most exciting edition of the tournament yet for fans across the globe, including those watching from India.
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For Indian football fans planning to follow the action through the night and early mornings, here is the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule in Indian Standard Time (IST).