The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest edition of football’s premier tournament, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For football fans in India, keeping track of kick-off times can be challenging because most matches will take place overnight or early in the morning due to the time difference.To help fans plan ahead, here is everything you need to know about the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule in Indian Standard Time (IST), including key dates, knockout rounds and the final.FIFA World Cup 2026 key dates in ISTStageDates (IST)Group StageJune 12 – June 28, 2026Round of 32June 29 – July 4, 2026Round of 16July 5 – July 8, 2026Quarter-finalsJuly 10 – July 12, 2026Semi-finalsJuly 15 – July 16, 2026Third-place MatchJuly 19, 2026FinalJuly 20, 2026Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Betting Guide: Odds, favorites, key players, underdogs and is it legal?FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Schedule India Time ISTDateDayTim (IST)FixturesVenues1June 12Friday12.30 AMMexico vs South AfricaMexico City2June 12Friday7:30 AMSouth Korea vs CzechiaZapopan3June 13Saturday12.30 AMCanada vs Bosnia and HerzegovinaToronto4June 13Saturday6:30 AMUSA vs ParaguayLos Angeles5June 14Sunday12:30 AMQatar vs SwitzerlandSanta Clara6June 14Sunday3:30 AMBrazil vs MoroccoNew Jersey7June 14Sunday6:30 AMHaiti vs ScotlandFoxborough8June 14Sunday9:30 AMAustralia vs TurkeyVancouver9June 14Sunday10:30 PMGermany vs CuraçaoHouston10June 15Monday1:30 AMNetherlands vs JapanArlington11June 15Monday4.30 AMIvory Coast vs EcuadorPhiladelphia12June 15Monday7:30 AMSweden vs TunisiaGuadalajara13June 15Monday9:30 PMSpain vs Cape VerdeAtlanta14June 16Tuesday12:30 AMBelgium vs EgyptSeattle15June 16Tuesday3:30 AMSaudi Arabia vs UruguayMiami16June 16Tuesday6:30 AMIran vs New ZealandLos Angeles17June 17Wednesday12.30 AMFrance vs SenegalNew Jersey18June 17Wednesday3:30 AMIraq vs NorwayFoxborough19June 17Wednesday6:30 AMArgentina vs AlgeriaKansas City20June 17Wednesday9.30 AMAustria vs JordanSanta Clara21June 17Wednesday10:30 PMPortugal vs DR CongoHouston22June 18Thursday1.30 AMEngland vs CroatiaArlington23June 18Thursday4:30 AMGhana vs PanamaToronto24June 18Thursday7:30 AMUzbekistan vs ColombiaMexico City25June 18Thursday9:30 PMCzechia vs South AfricaAtlanta26June 19Friday12:30 AMSwitzerland vs Bosnia and HerzegovinaLos Angeles27June 19Friday3:30 AMCanada vs QatarVancouver28June 19Friday6.30 AMMexico vs South KoreaZapopan29June 20Saturday12.30 AMUSA vs AustraliaSeattle30June 20Saturday3:30 AMScotland vs MoroccoFoxborough31June 20Saturday6 AMBrazil vs HaitiPhiladelphia32June 20Saturday8.30 AMTurkey vs ParaguaySanta Clara33June 20Saturday10:30 PMNetherlands vs SwedenHouston34June 21Sunday1.30 AMGermany vs Ivory CoastToronto35June 21Sunday5.30 AMEcuador vs CuraçaoKansas City36June 21Sunday9.30 AMTunisia vs JapanGuadalajara37June 21Sunday9:30 PMSpain vs Saudi ArabiaAtlanta38June 22Monday12.30 AMBelgium vs IranLos Angeles39June 22Monday3.30 AMUruguay vs Cape VerdeMiami40June 22Monday6.30 AMNew Zealand vs EgyptVancouver41June 22Monday10:30 PMArgentina vs AustriaArlington42June 23Tuesday2.30 AMFrance vs IraqPhiladelphia43June 23Tuesday5.30 AMNorway vs SenegalToronto44June 23Tuesday8:30 AMJordan vs AlgeriaSanta Clara45June 23Tuesday10:30 PMPortugal vs UzbekistanHouston46June 24Wednesday1.30 AMEngland vs GhanaFoxborough47June 24Wednesday4:30 AMPanama vs CroatiaFoxborough48June 24Wednesday7:30 AMColombia vs DR CongoZapopan49June 25Thursday12:30 AMSwitzerland vs CanadaVancouver50June 25Thursday12:30 AMBosnia and Herzegovina vs QatarSeattle51June 25Thursday3.30 AMMorocco vs HaitiAtlanta52June 25Thursday3.30 AMScotland vs BrazilMiami53June 25Thursday6.30 AMSouth Africa vs South KoreaGuadalajara54June 25Thursday6.30 AMCzechia vs MexicoMexico City55June 26Friday1.30 AMCuraçao vs Ivory CoastPhiladelphia56June 26Friday1.30 AMEcuador vs GermanyNew Jersey57June 26Friday4.30 AMTunisia vs NetherlandsKansas City58June 26Friday4.30 AMJapan vs SwedenArlington59June 26Friday7:30 AMTurkey vs USALos Angeles60June 26Friday7:30 AMParaguay vs AustraliaSanta Clara61June 27Saturday12.30 AMNorway vs FranceFoxborough62June 27Saturday12.30 AMSenegal vs IraqToronto63June 27Saturday5.30 AMCape Verde vs Saudi ArabiaHouston64June 27Saturday5.30 AMUruguay vs SpainZapopan65June 27Saturday8:30 AMNew Zealand vs BelgiumVancouver66June 27Saturday8:30 AMEgypt vs IranSeattle67June 28Sunday2:30 AMPanama vs EnglandNew Jersey68June 28Sunday2:30 AMCroatia vs GhanaPhiladelphia69June 28Sunday5 AMColombia vs PortugalMiami70June 28Sunday5 AMDR Congo vs UzbekistanAtlanta71June 28Sunday7.30 AMAlgeria vs AustriaKansas City72June 28Sunday7.30 AMJordan vs ArgentinaArlington73Jun 29Monday12:30 AMRound of 32: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-upLos Angeles74June 29Monday10:30 PMR-32: Group C winners vs Group F runners-upHouston75June 30Tuesday2 AMR-32: Group E winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamFoxborough76June 30Tuesday6:30 AMR-32: Group F winners vs Group C runners-upGuadalajara77June 30Tuesday10.30 PMR-32: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-upArlington78July 1Wednesday2:30 AMR-32: Group I winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamNew Jersey79July 1Wednesday6:30 AMR-32: Group A winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamMexico City80July 1Wednesday9:30 PMR-32: Group L winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamAtlanta81July 2Thursday1.30 AMR-32: Group G winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamSeattle82July 2Thursday1.30 AMR-32: Group D winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamSanta Clara83July 2Thursday5:30 AMR-32: Group H winners vs Group J runners-upLos Angeles84July 3Friday12:30 AMR-32: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-upToronto85July 3Friday4:30 AMR-32: Group B winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamVancouver86July 3Friday8:30 AMR-32: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-upArlington87July 3Friday11.30 PMR-32: Group J winners vs Group H runners-upMiami88July 4Saturday3:30 AMR-32: Group K winners vs Best Third-Placed TeamKansas City89July 4Saturday7:00 AMRound of 16: Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75Houston90July 4Saturday10:30 PMR16: Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77Philadelphia91July 5Sunday2:30 AMR16: Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78New Jersey92July 6Monday1:30 AMR16: Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80Mexico City93July 6Monday5:30 AMR16: Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84Arlington94July 7Tuesday1:30 AMR16: Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82Seattle95July 7Tuesday9:30 PMR16: Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88Atlanta96July 8Wednesday1:30 AMR16: Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87Vancouver97July 10Friday1:30 AMQuarterfinals: Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90Foxborough98July 11Saturday12.30 AMQF: Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94Los Angeles99July 12Sunday2:30 AMQF: Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92Miami100July 12Sunday6.30 AMQF: Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96Kansas City101July 15Wednesday12.30 AMSemifinal 1: Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98Arlington102July 16Thursday12.30 AMSF 1: Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100Atlanta103July 19Sunday2:30 AMThird Place: Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102Miami104July 20Monday12.30 AMFinal: Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102New JerseClick here to download FIFA World Cup Full schedule India time ISTWhy are World Cup 2026 match times different for Indian fans?The official FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is released in Eastern Time (ET). India is 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Time during the tournament period. As a result, many afternoon and evening matches in North America will be played late at night or early morning in India.ET to IST conversion chartEastern Time (ET)Indian Standard Time (IST)12:00 PM9:30 PM1:00 PM10:30 PM3:00 PM12:30 AM (next day)4:00 PM1:30 AM (next day)5:00 PM2:30 AM (next day)8:00 PM5:30 AM (next day)9:00 PM6:30 AM (next day)10:00 PM7:30 AM (next day)11:00 PM8:30 AM (next day)FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage schedule in ISTThe tournament kicks off on June 12, 2026 (IST) and runs through June 28, with matches taking place daily across host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Fans in India can expect matches to be spread across four primary time slots:9:30 PM IST12:30 AM IST3:30 AM IST6:30 AM ISTThe exact kick-off time depends on the host city and local scheduling.Round of 32 schedule in ISTFor the first time in World Cup history, a Round of 32 will be played due to the expanded 48-team format.Start date: June 29, 2026 (IST)End date: July 4, 2026 (IST)Total matches: 16The winners advance to the Round of 16.Round of 16 schedule in ISTThe last 16 stage will be held from July 5 to July 8, 2026 (IST).This round will feature the strongest teams from the expanded tournament and is expected to include football powerhouses such as Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Spain, Germany and Portugal if they progress from the group stage.Quarter-final schedule in ISTThe quarter-finals are scheduled between July 10 and July 12, 2026 (IST).Only eight teams will remain in contention for football's biggest prize.Semi-final schedule in ISTThe semi-finals will take place on:July 15, 2026 (IST)July 16, 2026 (IST)These matches will determine the finalists and the teams competing for third place.Third-place match schedule in ISTThe bronze medal match is scheduled for:July 19, 2026 (IST)FIFA World Cup 2026 final in ISTThe FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled for:Date: July 20, 2026 (IST)Kick-off time: 12:30 AM ISTThe match will crown the champion of the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup.Host countries for FIFA World Cup 2026The tournament will be jointly hosted by:United StatesCanadaMexicoIt will be the first World Cup hosted by three nations and the largest edition in FIFA history.How many matches will be played in FIFA World Cup 2026?The expanded tournament format includes:48 teams12 groups104 matches39 tournament daysThis makes it the biggest FIFA World Cup ever staged.Also Read | From roaring crowds to FIFA World Cup absence: What’s holding India back from football’s biggest stage?FAQsWhen does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start in India?The tournament begins on June 12, 2026, according to Indian Standard Time.What time is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in India?The final is scheduled to kick off at 12:30 AM IST on July 20, 2026.How many teams will play in FIFA World Cup 2026?A record 48 teams will participate.How many matches are there in FIFA World Cup 2026?There will be 104 matches across the tournament.Which countries are hosting FIFA World Cup 2026?The United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly hosting the tournament.