Key facts
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 and concludes on July 19.
- A record 48 teams will participate in the tournament.
- Eight Arab nations have qualified: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia.
- Kick-off times are detailed for group stage and knockout matches across multiple time zones.
- Broadcast rights holders include BeIn Sports (MENA), BBC/ITV (UK), Fox (US), Unite8 Sports (India), and SBS (Australia).
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 11, featuring a record 48 teams competing over 37 days. This tournament marks a historic moment with eight Arab nations qualifying: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. Qatar will play their opening match against Switzerland on the second day, while Morocco faces Brazil later the same day. Saudi Arabia's campaign begins on June 15 against Uruguay, a rematch of their surprising 2-1 victory in the previous World Cup.
The tournament schedule includes detailed kick-off times for various stages across different time zones, including US & Canada (EST), UK (BST), India (IST), and Australia (AEDT). For example, group stage matches will kick off at 3:00 pm EST, 8:00 pm BST, 12:30 am IST, and 5:00 am AEDT, among other slots.
Broadcast coverage will be region-specific. In the Middle East and North Africa, matches will be shown on BeIn Sports. The United Kingdom will have coverage on the BBC and ITV. Viewers in the United States can watch on Fox, while India's broadcast partner is Unite8 Sports, and Australia's is SBS.