Prepare to renegotiate your bedtime
The World Cup 2026 might be unfolding thousands of kilometres away, but fans in the UAE won’t miss a single kick. The only question is how much sleep you’ll lose over the next few weeks. From late-night group stage clashes to early-morning knockouts, here’s every match kick-off time in UAE time so you can plan your nights accordingly.
*Your guide to watching the World Cup in Dubai*
Here’s everything you need to know.
Group stage
Group A
Mexico
South Africa
Korea Republic
Czechia
Group B
Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar
Switzerland
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
Group D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Türkiye
Group E
Germany
Curacao
Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Tunisia
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
IR Iran
New Zealand
Group H
Spain
Cabo Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
Group I
France
Senegal
Iraq
Norway
*Top spots to watch the World Cup in Abu Dhabi*
Group J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
Group K
Portugal
Congo Dr
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Group L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
Here’s when every World Cup 2026 match kicks off in the UAE
(Note: Match number written in brackets)
Thursday, June 11, 2026
(1) Mexico vs South Africa: 11pm
Friday, June 12, 2026
(2) South Korea vs Czechia: 6am
(3) Canada vs Bosnia: 11pm
Saturday, June 13, 2026
(4) USA vs Paraguay: 5am
(8) Qatar vs Switzerland: 11pm
Sunday, June 14, 2026
(7) Brazil vs Morocco: 2am
(5) Haiti vs Scotland: 5am
(6) Australia vs Türkiye: 8am
(10) Germany vs Curacao: 9pm
Monday. June 15, 2026
(11) Netherlands vs Japan: 12am
(9) Ivory Coast vs Ecuador: 3am
(12) Sweden vs Tunisia: 6am
(14) Spain vs Cape Verde: 8pm
(16) Belgium vs Egypt: 11pm
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
(13) Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay: 2am
(15) Iran vs New Zealand: 5am
(17) France vs Senegal: 11pm
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
(18) Iraq vs Norway: 2am
(19) Argentina vs Algeria: 5am
(20) Austria vs Jordan: 8am
(23) Portugal vs DR Congo: 9pm
Thursday, June 18, 2026
(22) England vs Croatia: 12am
(21) Ghana vs Panama: 3am
(24) Uzbekistan vs Colombia: 6am
(25) Czechia vs South Africa: 8pm
(26) Switzerland vs Bosnia: 11pm
Friday, June 19, 2026
(27) Canada vs Qatar: 2am
(28) Mexico vs South Korea: 5am
(32) USA vs Australia: 11pm
Saturday, June 20, 2026
(30) Scotland vs Morocco: 2am
(29) Brazil vs Haiti: 4.30am
(31) Türkiye vs Paraguay: 7am
(35) Netherlands vs Sweden: 9pm
Sunday, June 21, 2026
(33) Germany vs Ivory Coast: 12am
(34) Ecuador vs Curacao: 4am
(36) Tunisia vs Japan: 8am
(38) Spain vs Saudi Arabia: 8pm
(39) Belgium vs Iran: 11pm
Monday, June 22, 2026
(37) Uruguay vs Cape Verde: 2am
(40) New Zealand vs Egypt: 5am
(43) Argentina vs Austria: 9pm
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
(42) France vs Iraq: 1am
(41) Norway vs Senegal: 4am
(44) Jordan vs Algeria: 7am
(47) Portugal vs Uzbekistan: 9pm
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
(45) England vs Ghana: 12am
(46) Panama vs Croatia: 3am
(48) Columbia vs DR Congo: 6am
(51) Switzerland vs Canada: 11pm
(52) Bosnia vs Qatar: 11pm
Thursday, June 25, 2026
(49) Scotland vs Brazil: 2am
(50) Morocco vs Haiti: 2am
(53) Czechia vs Mexico: 5am
(54) South Africa vs South Korea: 5am
Friday, June 26, 2026
(55) Curacao vs Ivory Coast: 12am
(56) Ecuador vs Germany: 12am
(57) Japan vs Sweden: 3am
(58) Tunisia vs Netherlands: 3am
(59) Türkiye vs USA: 6am
(60) Paraguay vs Australia: 6am
(61) Norway vs France: 11pm
(62) Senegal vs Iraq: 11pm
Saturday, June 27, 2026
(65) Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia: 4am
(66) Uruguay vs Spain: 4am
(63) Egypt vs Iran: 7am
(64) New Zealand vs Belgium: 7am
Sunday, June 28, 2026
(67) Panama vs England: 1am
(68) Croatia vs Ghana: 1am
(71) Columbia vs Portugal: 3.30am
(72) DR Congo vs Uzbekistan: 3.30am
(69) Algeria vs Austria: 6am
(70) Jordan vs Argentina: 6am
(73) Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group B: 11pm
Monday, June 29, 2026
(76) Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group F
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
(74) Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F: 12.30am
(75) Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group C: 5am
(78) Runner-up Group E vs Runner-up Group I: 9pm
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
(77) Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H: 1am
(79) Winner Group A vs 3rd group C/E/F/H/I: 5am
(80) Winner Group L vs 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K: 8pm
Thursday, July 2, 2026
(82) Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J: 12am
(81) Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J: 4am
(84) Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J: 11pm
Friday, July 3, 2026
(83) Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L: 3am
(85) Winner Group B vs 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J: 7am
(88) Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G: 10pm
Saturday, July 4, 2026
(86) Winner Group J vs Runner-up Group H: 2am
(87) Winner Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L: 5.30am
(90) Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75
Sunday, July 5, 2026
(89) Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77: 1am
Monday, July 6, 2026
(91) Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78: 12am
(92) Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80: 4am
(93) Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84: 11pm
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
(94) Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82: 4am
(95) Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88: 8pm
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
(96) Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87: 12am
QUARTER FINALS
Friday, July 10, 2026
(97) Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90: 12am
(98) Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94: 11pm
Sunday, July 12, 2026
(99) Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92: 1am
(100) Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96: 5am
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
(101) Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98: 11pm
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
(102) Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100: 11pm
3RD PLACE
Sunday, July 19, 2026
(103) Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102: 1am
FINALS
Sunday, July 19, 2026
(104) Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102: 11pm
The World Cup kick-off times may be off for us in the UAE, but if you’re true football fan and want to join others to celebrate every goal, here are some places in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to head to.
Images: Getty Images
