The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, 11 June, with Mexico taking on South Africa in the tournament opener. Spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is the first edition to feature 48 national teams, with 1,248 players competing across 104 matches.
France, Spain, England, Argentina and Brazil are the leading title contenders. The tournament brings together a generation-defining cast of players: Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Vinícius Júnior among them.
The first round runs through 18 June and includes several fixtures of particular interest to GCC viewers. Saudi Arabia open their campaign against Uruguay on Tuesday, 16 June, while Qatar face Switzerland on Saturday, 13 June. Egypt meet Belgium on Monday, 15 June, before a rematch of the 2022 Africa Cup final: Morocco against Brazil on Sunday, 14 June.
Other notable Group Stage fixtures in the opening round include Spain versus Cape Verde (15 June), France versus Senegal (16 June), and England versus Croatia (17 June). Argentina face Algeria on 17 June, and Iraq meet Norway the same day.
The second round opens 19 June with the United States against Australia, followed by Brazil versus Haiti and Spain versus Saudi Arabia on 21 June.
All matches are broadcast live on beIN Sports, Al Kass channels, TOD and FIFA+.
Kick-off times below are listed in UAE time, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt one hour behind.
**Selected Round 1 fixtures (UAE time)**
11 June: Mexico v South Africa, 23:00
12 June: South Korea v Czech Republic, 06:00 / Canada v Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23:00
13 June: USA v Paraguay, 05:00 / Qatar v Switzerland, 23:00
14 June: Brazil v Morocco, 02:00 / Germany v Curaçao, 21:00
15 June: Spain v Cape Verde, 20:00 / Belgium v Egypt, 23:00
16 June: Saudi Arabia v Uruguay, 02:00 / France v Senegal, 23:00
17 June: Iraq v Norway, 02:00 / Argentina v Algeria, 05:00 / Jordan v Austria, 08:00 / England v Croatia, 00:00
18 June: Czech Republic v South Africa, 20:00 / Switzerland v Bosnia-Herzegovina, 23:00
**Selected Round 2 fixtures (UAE time)**
19 June: Canada v Qatar, 02:00 / Mexico v South Korea, 05:00 / USA v Australia, 23:00
20 June: Morocco v Scotland, 02:00 / Brazil v Haiti, 04:30
21 June: Spain v Saudi Arabia, 20:00
22 June: Uruguay v Cape Verde, 02:00 / Argentina v Austria, 21:00
