The World Cup 2026 schedule CET guide lists all 104 matches in Central European Time. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026. Every kick-off below is shown in CEST.
Bottom line: 48 teams, 16 cities, 104 matches. Most games kick off in the European evening. The final is 9:00 PM CEST on Sunday 19 July.
A quick word on the clock. During the tournament Central Europe is on summer time, CEST (UTC+2). That is one hour ahead of standard CET (UTC+1), which only applies in winter.
Many fans still search “CET”, so this guide keeps that label but shows the accurate CEST times. Times can shift, so confirm on official sources before kick-off.
Download Your Free Printable World Cup 2026 Schedule (CET)
Want the whole tournament on one sheet? Grab the free printable CET schedule below.
- All 72 group stage matches, sorted by group.
- The full knockout path, from the Round of 32 to the final.
- Dates, CEST kick-off times, and host cities for every game.
- A clean navy and gold design built to print at home on A4.
What Time Do World Cup 2026 Matches Kick Off in CET?
All matches are played in North America. So in Central Europe they fall in the evening and overnight. Central Europe is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time during the tournament. So a 3:00 PM ET kick-off is 9:00 PM CEST the same day.
Typical CEST windows by venue region:
- US East Coast: about 6:00 PM to 4:00 AM CEST.
- US West Coast: about 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM CEST.
- Mexico: about 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM CEST.
Most group games are in European prime time, with late North American kick-offs running past midnight. The opener is 9:00 PM CEST on Thursday 11 June. The final is 9:00 PM CEST on Sunday, 19 July.
Across other European zones: Western Europe (Portugal, Ireland, and the UK on summer time) is 1 hour behind CEST. Eastern Europe (Greece, Finland, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Baltics) is 1 hour ahead of CEST.
When Do the Big European Teams Play? (CEST)
First group match for the leading European sides, in CEST:
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 13 Jun | 9:00 PM | Switzerland (v Qatar) | San Francisco |
| Sun, 14 Jun | 7:00 PM | Germany (v Curacao) | Houston |
| Sun, 14 Jun | 10:00 PM | Netherlands (v Japan) | Dallas |
| Mon, 15 Jun | 6:00 PM | Spain (v Cape Verde) | Atlanta |
| Mon, 15 Jun | 9:00 PM | Belgium (v Egypt) | Seattle |
| Tue, 16 Jun | 9:00 PM | France (v Senegal) | New York New Jersey |
| Wed, 17 Jun | 7:00 PM | Portugal (v DR Congo) | Houston |
| Wed, 17 Jun | 10:00 PM | Croatia (v England) | Dallas |
Coverage is sold country by country, so the channel depends on where you are. Most Central European nations have free-to-air coverage through their national public broadcaster. Check your local listings for the exact channel and stream.
Full fixtures for every team are in the group tables below.
World Cup Group Stage Schedule (Central European Time)
Every group game in CEST. Some late North American kickoffs air the next day in Europe.
Group A
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 11 Jun | 9:00 PM | Mexico v South Africa | Mexico City |
| Fri, 12 Jun | 4:00 AM | South Korea v Czechia | Guadalajara |
| Thu, 18 Jun | 6:00 PM | Czechia v South Africa | Atlanta |
| Fri, 19 Jun | 3:00 AM | Mexico v South Korea | Guadalajara |
| Thu, 25 Jun | 3:00 AM | Czechia v Mexico | Mexico City |
| Thu, 25 Jun | 3:00 AM | South Africa v South Korea | Monterrey |
Group B
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 12 Jun | 9:00 PM | Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina | Toronto |
| Sat, 13 Jun | 9:00 PM | Qatar v Switzerland | San Francisco |
| Thu, 18 Jun | 9:00 PM | Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina | Los Angeles |
| Fri, 19 Jun | 12:00 AM | Canada v Qatar | Vancouver |
| Wed, 24 Jun | 9:00 PM | Switzerland v Canada | Vancouver |
| Wed, 24 Jun | 9:00 PM | Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar | Seattle |
Group C
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 14 Jun | 12:00 AM | Brazil v Morocco | New York New Jersey |
| Sun, 14 Jun | 3:00 AM | Haiti v Scotland | Boston |
| Sat, 20 Jun | 12:00 AM | Scotland v Morocco | Boston |
| Sat, 20 Jun | 3:00 AM | Brazil v Haiti | Philadelphia |
| Thu, 25 Jun | 12:00 AM | Scotland v Brazil | Miami |
| Thu, 25 Jun | 12:00 AM | Morocco v Haiti | Atlanta |
Group D
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 13 Jun | 3:00 AM | USA v Paraguay | Los Angeles |
| Sun, 14 Jun | 6:00 AM | Australia v Turkiye | Vancouver |
| Fri, 19 Jun | 9:00 PM | USA v Australia | Seattle |
| Sat, 20 Jun | 6:00 AM | Turkiye v Paraguay | San Francisco |
| Fri, 26 Jun | 4:00 AM | Turkiye v USA | Los Angeles |
| Fri, 26 Jun | 4:00 AM | Paraguay v Australia | San Francisco |
Group E
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 14 Jun | 7:00 PM | Germany v Curacao | Houston |
| Mon, 15 Jun | 1:00 AM | Ivory Coast v Ecuador | Philadelphia |
| Sat, 20 Jun | 10:00 PM | Germany v Ivory Coast | Toronto |
| Sun, 21 Jun | 2:00 AM | Ecuador v Curacao | Kansas City |
| Thu, 25 Jun | 10:00 PM | Ecuador v Germany | New York New Jersey |
| Thu, 25 Jun | 10:00 PM | Curacao v Ivory Coast | Philadelphia |
Group F
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 14 Jun | 10:00 PM | Netherlands v Japan | Dallas |
| Mon, 15 Jun | 4:00 AM | Sweden v Tunisia | Monterrey |
| Sat, 20 Jun | 7:00 PM | Netherlands v Sweden | Houston |
| Sun, 21 Jun | 6:00 AM | Tunisia v Japan | Monterrey |
| Fri, 26 Jun | 1:00 AM | Japan v Sweden | Dallas |
| Fri, 26 Jun | 1:00 AM | Tunisia v Netherlands | Kansas City |
Group G
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, 15 Jun | 9:00 PM | Belgium v Egypt | Seattle |
| Tue, 16 Jun | 3:00 AM | Iran v New Zealand | Los Angeles |
| Sun, 21 Jun | 9:00 PM | Belgium v Iran | Los Angeles |
| Mon, 22 Jun | 3:00 AM | New Zealand v Egypt | Vancouver |
| Sat, 27 Jun | 5:00 AM | Egypt v Iran | Seattle |
| Sat, 27 Jun | 5:00 AM | New Zealand v Belgium | Vancouver |
Group H
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, 15 Jun | 6:00 PM | Spain v Cape Verde | Atlanta |
| Tue, 16 Jun | 12:00 AM | Saudi Arabia v Uruguay | Miami |
| Sun, 21 Jun | 6:00 PM | Spain v Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
| Mon, 22 Jun | 12:00 AM | Uruguay v Cape Verde | Miami |
| Sat, 27 Jun | 2:00 AM | Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia | Houston |
| Sat, 27 Jun | 2:00 AM | Uruguay v Spain | Guadalajara |
Group I
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 16 Jun | 9:00 PM | France v Senegal | New York New Jersey |
| Wed, 17 Jun | 12:00 AM | Iraq v Norway | Boston |
| Mon, 22 Jun | 11:00 PM | France v Iraq | Philadelphia |
| Tue, 23 Jun | 2:00 AM | Norway v Senegal | New York New Jersey |
| Fri, 26 Jun | 9:00 PM | Norway v France | Boston |
| Fri, 26 Jun | 9:00 PM | Senegal v Iraq | Toronto |
Group J
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 17 Jun | 3:00 AM | Argentina v Algeria | Kansas City |
| Wed, 17 Jun | 6:00 AM | Austria v Jordan | San Francisco |
| Mon, 22 Jun | 7:00 PM | Argentina v Austria | Dallas |
| Tue, 23 Jun | 5:00 AM | Jordan v Algeria | San Francisco |
| Sun, 28 Jun | 4:00 AM | Algeria v Austria | Kansas City |
| Sun, 28 Jun | 4:00 AM | Jordan v Argentina | Dallas |
Group K
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 17 Jun | 7:00 PM | Portugal v DR Congo | Houston |
| Thu, 18 Jun | 4:00 AM | Uzbekistan v Colombia | Mexico City |
| Tue, 23 Jun | 7:00 PM | Portugal v Uzbekistan | Houston |
| Wed, 24 Jun | 4:00 AM | Colombia v DR Congo | Guadalajara |
| Sun, 28 Jun | 1:30 AM | Colombia v Portugal | Miami |
| Sun, 28 Jun | 1:30 AM | DR Congo v Uzbekistan | Atlanta |
Group L
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 17 Jun | 10:00 PM | England v Croatia | Dallas |
| Thu, 18 Jun | 1:00 AM | Ghana v Panama | Toronto |
| Tue, 23 Jun | 10:00 PM | England v Ghana | Boston |
| Wed, 24 Jun | 1:00 AM | Panama v Croatia | Toronto |
| Sat, 27 Jun | 11:00 PM | Panama v England | New York New Jersey |
| Sat, 27 Jun | 11:00 PM | Croatia v Ghana | Philadelphia |
World Cup Knockout Stage Schedule (CET)
The knockout rounds decide the champion. The named teams fill in once the groups end. All times are CEST.
Round of 32 (28 June to 4 July)
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Match | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 28 Jun | 9:00 PM | Runner-up A v Runner-up B | Los Angeles |
| Mon, 29 Jun | 7:00 PM | Winner C v Runner-up F | Houston |
| Mon, 29 Jun | 10:30 PM | Winner E v 3rd A/B/C/D/F | Boston |
| Tue, 30 Jun | 3:00 AM | Winner F v Runner-up C | Monterrey |
| Tue, 30 Jun | 7:00 PM | Runner-up E v Runner-up I | Dallas |
| Tue, 30 Jun | 11:00 PM | Winner I v 3rd C/D/F/G/H | New York New Jersey |
| Wed, 1 Jul | 3:00 AM | Winner A v 3rd C/E/F/H/I | Mexico City |
| Wed, 1 Jul | 6:00 PM | Winner L v 3rd E/H/I/J/K | Atlanta |
| Wed, 1 Jul | 10:00 PM | Winner G v 3rd A/E/H/I/J | Seattle |
| Thu, 2 Jul | 2:00 AM | Winner D v 3rd B/E/F/I/J | San Francisco |
| Thu, 2 Jul | 9:00 PM | Winner H v Runner-up J | Los Angeles |
| Fri, 3 Jul | 1:00 AM | Runner-up K v Runner-up L | Toronto |
| Fri, 3 Jul | 5:00 AM | Winner B v 3rd E/F/G/I/J | Vancouver |
| Fri, 3 Jul | 8:00 PM | Runner-up D v Runner-up G | Dallas |
| Sat, 4 Jul | 12:00 AM | Winner J v Runner-up H | Miami |
| Sat, 4 Jul | 3:30 AM | Winner K v 3rd D/E/I/J/L | Kansas City |
Round of 16 (4 July to 7 July)
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, 4 Jul | 7:00 PM | Houston |
| Sat, 4 Jul | 11:00 PM | Philadelphia |
| Sun, 5 Jul | 10:00 PM | New York New Jersey |
| Mon, 6 Jul | 2:00 AM | Mexico City |
| Mon, 6 Jul | 9:00 PM | Dallas |
| Tue, 7 Jul | 2:00 AM | Seattle |
| Tue, 7 Jul | 6:00 PM | Atlanta |
| Tue, 7 Jul | 10:00 PM | Vancouver |
Quarter-finals (9 July to 12 July)
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | City |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, 9 Jul | 10:00 PM | Boston |
| Fri, 10 Jul | 9:00 PM | Los Angeles |
| Sat, 11 Jul | 11:00 PM | Miami |
| Sun, 12 Jul | 3:00 AM | Kansas City |
Semi-finals, Third Place, and Final
| Date (CEST) | Kick-off (CEST) | Stage | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 14 Jul | 9:00 PM | Semi-final 1 | Dallas |
| Wed, 15 Jul | 9:00 PM | Semi-final 2 | Atlanta |
| Sat, 18 Jul | 11:00 PM | Third-place play-off | Miami |
| Sun, 19 Jul | 9:00 PM | Final | New York New Jersey |
This is the first 48-team World Cup. The top two in every group advance, plus the eight best third-place teams. That gives 32 teams in the knockout bracket. Every knockout game is a single match. A third-place play-off takes place the day before the final.
FAQ About World Cup 2026 Schedule CET
What time does the World Cup 2026 start in CET?
The opener kicks off at 9:00 PM CEST on Thursday 11 June. Mexico face South Africa in Mexico City.
Is it CET or CEST during the World Cup 2026?
It is CEST. Central Europe uses summer time (CEST, UTC+2) in June and July. Standard CET (UTC+1) only applies in winter, so all tournament times are CEST.
What time is the World Cup 2026 final in CET?
The final kicks off at 9:00 PM CEST on Sunday 19 July, in New York New Jersey.
How can I watch the World Cup 2026 in Europe?
Through your national broadcaster, which varies by country and is often free-to-air. Under FIFA’s YouTube partnership, participating broadcasters can also stream the first 10 minutes of every match live and free on their official YouTube channels.
Can I download the World Cup 2026 schedule as a PDF?
Yes. Use the free printable CET schedule PDF on this page. It lists every match, CEST kick-off time, and host city on a clean A4 sheet.
The World Cup 2026 schedule CET guide gives you all 104 matches in CEST. It starts on 11 June and ends on 19 July. Download the free printable PDF and mark your matches.
