World Cup 2026: Match dates, kick-off times and how to watch

World Cup 2026: Match dates, kick-off times and how to watch Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 06/09/2026 - 09:00 MEE answers your questions on what dates and times the matches will be played, where to watch them and more The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (temporarily renamed from Levi's Stadium) is seen from the air in Santa Clara, California, on 19 May 2026 (Josh Edelson/AFP) Off The 2026 World Cup kicks off on 11 June with a record 48 teams competing for football's most prestigious prize. Four years after Argentina were crowned world champions, England are hoping to end 60 years of hurt while Brazil, France, Germany and Spain are all chasing glory. But for the first time in the competition's history, eight Arab nations have qualified, with Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia all aiming to light up football's biggest stage.