By time zone · World Cup 2026
By time zone · World Cup 2026
Match times by host city.
Quick answer
Most US- and Canada-side matches kick off at 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, or 9:00 PM local time at the host stadium. Add or subtract the offset between the host city and your home: from Eastern, subtract 1 hour for Central / Mexican cities, 2 for Mountain, and 3 for Pacific. From Pacific, add 3 hours to reach a Toronto or Miami kickoff. The opening match in Mexico City kicks off at 3:00 PM ET; the final at MetLife in New York / New Jersey kicks off at 3:00 PM ET.
Eastern Time (ET) — baseline
Central Time (CT) — ET − 1
FAQ
Time zones: FAQs
What time zone is the 2026 World Cup opening match played in?
The opening match (Mexico vs South Africa, Mexico City, Thursday, June 11, 2026) is played in Mexico City local time (Central Time, no DST). Kickoff is 3:00 PM ET, which is 2:00 PM in Mexico City and 12:00 PM Pacific Time.
What time zone is the 2026 World Cup final in?
The final (Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey) is played in Eastern Time. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET, which is 12:00 PM Pacific Time, 2:00 PM Central, and 1:00 PM Mountain.
Do Mexican host cities observe daylight saving time during the World Cup?
No. Mexico ended observance of daylight saving time in 2022 (with limited exceptions near the US border). Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey stay on Central Standard Time year-round, which is one hour behind US Eastern Daylight Time during the June–July tournament window.
How do I figure out the local kickoff time for any match?
Start with the host city. Match the city to its US time zone (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific). The kickoff time published by FIFA is usually in local stadium time; add or subtract the offset between the host city and your home time zone. For US viewers, Eastern Time is the easiest baseline because every match airs on the FOX or Telemundo schedule in ET first.
Will FIFA publish kickoff times in my local time on its website?
Yes. The FIFA tournament page at fifa.com displays kickoff times in your browser’s local time once the schedule is loaded. The published match-card on fifa.com is the authoritative source — if there is a conflict between our page and FIFA, follow FIFA.
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