The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially gets underway today, June 11, marking the start of the biggest tournament in football history.
The opening match will see hosts Mexico take on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, launching a landmark edition of the competition jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
This year’s World Cup features a record-breaking 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the most expansive tournament ever staged by FIFA.
According to Melbourne time (AEST), the opening clash between Mexico and South Africa will kick off at 5:00 AM on Friday, June 12, bringing global football excitement to fans in the early hours of the morning in Australia.
The tournament promises weeks of high-intensity action, global rivalries, and historic moments as the world’s best teams compete for football’s most prestigious prize.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 – GROUP STAGE SCHEDULE (MELBOURNE TIME)
Friday, June 12
Mexico vs South Africa — 5:00 AM
South Korea vs Czechia — 12:00 PM
Saturday, June 13
Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina — 5:00 AM
United States vs Paraguay — 10:00 AM
Sunday, June 14
Qatar vs Switzerland — 5:00 AM
Brazil vs Morocco — 8:00 AM
Haiti vs Scotland — 10:00 AM
Australia vs Türkiye — 2:00 PM
Germany vs Curaçao — 3:00 AM (June 15)
Monday, June 15
Netherlands vs Japan — 6:00 AM
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — 9:00 AM
Sweden vs Tunisia — 12:00 PM
Spain vs Cape Verde — 2:00 AM (June 16)
Tuesday, June 16
Belgium vs Egypt — 5:00 AM
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — 8:00 AM
Iran vs New Zealand — 11:00 AM
Wednesday, June 17
France vs Senegal — 5:00 AM
Iraq vs Norway — 8:00 AM
Argentina vs Algeria — 11:00 AM
Austria vs Jordan — 2:00 PM
Portugal vs DR Congo — 3:00 AM (June 18)
Thursday, June 18
England vs Croatia — 6:00 AM
Ghana vs Panama — 9:00 AM
Uzbekistan vs Colombia — 12:00 PM
Czechia vs South Africa — 2:00 AM (June 19)
Friday, June 19
Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina — 5:00 AM
Canada vs Qatar — 8:00 AM
Mexico vs South Korea — 11:00 AM
Saturday, June 20
United States vs Australia — 5:00 AM
Scotland vs Morocco — 8:00 AM
Brazil vs Haiti — 10:30 AM
Türkiye vs Paraguay — 1:00 PM
Netherlands vs Sweden — 3:00 AM (June 21)
Sunday, June 21
Germany vs Ivory Coast — 6:00 AM
Ecuador vs Curaçao — 9:30 AM
Tunisia vs Japan — 2:00 PM
Spain vs Saudi Arabia — 2:00 AM (June 22)
Monday, June 22
Belgium vs Iran — 5:00 AM
Uruguay vs Cape Verde — 8:00 AM
New Zealand vs Egypt — 11:00 AM
Argentina vs Austria — 3:00 AM (June 23)
Tuesday, June 23
France vs Iraq — 6:30 AM
Norway vs Senegal — 9:30 AM
Jordan vs Algeria — 12:30 PM
Portugal vs Uzbekistan — 3:00 AM (June 24)
Wednesday, June 24
England vs Ghana — 6:00 AM
Panama vs Croatia — 9:00 AM
Colombia vs DR Congo — 12:00 PM
Thursday, June 25
Switzerland vs Canada — 5:00 AM
Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar — 5:00 AM
Scotland vs Brazil — 8:00 AM
Morocco vs Haiti — 8:00 AM
Czechia vs Mexico — 11:00 AM
South Africa vs South Korea — 11:00 AM
Friday, June 26
Ecuador vs Germany — 6:00 AM
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast — 6:00 AM
Japan vs Sweden — 9:00 AM
Tunisia vs Netherlands — 9:00 AM
Türkiye vs United States — 12:00 PM
Paraguay vs Australia — 12:00 PM
Saturday, June 27
Norway vs France — 5:00 AM
Senegal vs Iraq — 5:00 AM
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — 10:00 AM
Uruguay vs Spain — 10:00 AM
Egypt vs Iran — 1:00 PM
New Zealand vs Belgium — 1:00 PM
Sunday, June 28
Panama vs England — 7:00 AM
Croatia vs Ghana — 7:00 AM
Colombia vs Portugal — 9:30 AM
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — 9:30 AM
Algeria vs Austria — 12:00 PM
Jordan vs Argentina — 12:00 PM
Key Matches (Melbourne Time)
Brazil vs Morocco — June 14, 8:00 AM
France vs Senegal — June 17, 5:00 AM
England vs Croatia — June 18, 6:00 AM
Netherlands vs Sweden — June 21, 3:00 AM
France vs Norway — June 27, 5:00 AM
Uruguay vs Spain — June 27, 10:00 AM
