FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule & Match Time
in Bangladesh (BST)
The biggest football tournament in history is under way across USA, Canada, and Mexico — and Bangladesh is watching. Below you will find every group stage fixture with kick-off times converted to Bangladesh Standard Time (BST, UTC+6), schedule breakdowns for all the fan-favourite teams, and everything you need to plan your late-night viewing sessions.
Football is not just a sport in Bangladesh — it is a national mood. Every four years, neighbourhoods split into rival camps. Walls and rooftops bloom in blue-and-white stripes or green-and-yellow. The tea stalls fill at midnight, the generators run past dawn, and the whole country rearranges its sleep schedule for six weeks. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is no different — except that this edition is larger than any before it.
For the first time in World Cup history, 48 national teams are competing. The tournament has been expanded from the familiar 32-team format to include a new Round of 32 knockout stage before the last 16. That means more matches, more upsets, and more chances for smaller footballing nations to announce themselves on the biggest stage in the sport. With games spread across 16 stadiums in three countries and six time zones, working out when exactly a match kicks off in Dhaka requires a bit of calculation — which is exactly what this guide is for.
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
- Tournament dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
- Host nations: United States of America, Canada, Mexico
- Opening match: Mexico vs South Africa — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (June 12, 01:00 AM BST)
- Final: July 19, 2026 — New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife), East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Format: 12 groups of 4 teams → top 2 from each group + 8 best 3rd-place teams → Round of 32 (new) → Round of 16 → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Final
- Groups: A through L — 12 groups total, 4 teams each
Tournament Stage Dates
Why Match Times in Bangladesh Are Late at Night
The venues hosting FIFA World Cup 2026 are spread across North America — from Vancouver, Canada in the west to Miami and Boston in the east. The time difference between those cities and Bangladesh is significant. Bangladesh runs on Bangladesh Standard Time (BST), which is UTC+6. Most North American host cities are between UTC−5 and UTC−7 in summer.
In practical terms: a match kicking off at 8pm local time in New York starts at 6am in Dhaka the next morning. A match at 9pm in Dallas starts at 8am Bangladesh time. The late-evening matches from the western US venues — Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco — land in the morning or afternoon in Bangladesh, which is actually the most watchable slot. The evening US kickoffs around 5pm–8pm local time tend to hit Bangladesh between 4am and 10am BST. Most of the really late Bangladesh-time kicks — the 1am and 2am slots — are matches that started around 3pm–4pm in North America.
Add 10 hours to Eastern time (ET) to get Bangladesh time. Add 11 hours to Central time (CT). Add 13 hours to Pacific time (PT). If the result crosses midnight, add one day to the date. A match at 9pm ET on June 17 becomes 7am BST on June 18.
Complete Group Stage Schedule — Bangladesh Time (BST)
All times below are in Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6). Matches marked in the table are the highest-interest fixtures for Bangladeshi football fans. The group stage runs from June 12 to June 28 in Bangladesh time.
Because of the time difference, some matches that take place on a certain date in North America fall on the following calendar day in Bangladesh. All dates and times listed here reflect Bangladesh Standard Time — the time you see on your clock in Dhaka when the match begins.
| BST Time | Group | Match |
|---|---|---|
| June 12 — Friday World Cup Opening Day (BST) | ||
| 01:00 AM | A | Mexico vs South Africa |
| 08:00 AM | A | South Korea vs Czechia |
| June 13 — Saturday | ||
| 01:00 AM | B | Canada vs Bosnia |
| 07:00 AM | D | USA vs Paraguay |
| June 14 — Sunday | ||
| 01:00 AM | B | Qatar vs Switzerland |
| 04:00 AM | C | Brazil vs Morocco |
| 07:00 AM | C | Haiti vs Scotland |
| 10:00 AM | D | Australia vs Turkey |
| 11:00 PM | E | Germany vs Curaçao |
| June 15 — Monday | ||
| 02:00 AM | F | Netherlands vs Japan |
| 05:00 AM | E | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador |
| 08:00 AM | F | Sweden vs Tunisia |
| 10:00 PM | H | Spain vs Cabo Verde |
| June 16 — Tuesday | ||
| 01:00 AM | F | Belgium vs Egypt |
| 04:00 AM | E | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay |
| 07:00 AM | F | Iran vs New Zealand |
| June 17 — Wednesday | ||
| 01:00 AM | I | France vs Senegal |
| 04:00 AM | I | Iraq vs Norway |
| 07:00 AM | J | Argentina vs Algeria |
| 10:00 AM | J | Austria vs Jordan |
| 11:00 PM | K | Portugal vs DR Congo |
| June 18 — Thursday | ||
| 02:00 AM | L | England vs Croatia |
| 05:00 AM | E | Ghana vs Panama |
| 08:00 AM | K | Uzbekistan vs Colombia |
| 10:00 PM | A | Czechia vs South Africa |
| June 19 — Friday | ||
| 01:00 AM | B | Switzerland vs Bosnia |
| 04:00 AM | B | Canada vs Qatar |
| 07:00 AM | A | Mexico vs South Korea |
| June 20 — Saturday | ||
| 01:00 AM | B | USA vs Australia |
| 04:00 AM | C | Scotland vs Morocco |
| 06:30 AM | C | Brazil vs Haiti |
| 09:00 AM | D | Turkey vs Paraguay |
| 11:00 PM | F | Netherlands vs Sweden |
| June 21 — Sunday | ||
| 02:00 AM | E | Germany vs Ivory Coast |
| 06:00 AM | H | Ecuador vs Curaçao |
| 10:00 AM | A | Tunisia vs Japan |
| 10:00 PM | H | Spain vs Saudi Arabia |
| June 22 — Monday | ||
| 01:00 AM | G | Belgium vs Iran |
| 04:00 AM | H | Uruguay vs Cape Verde |
| 07:00 AM | G | New Zealand vs Egypt |
| 11:00 PM | J | Argentina vs Austria |
| June 23 — Tuesday | ||
| 03:00 AM | I | France vs Iran |
| 06:00 AM | I | Norway vs Senegal |
| 09:00 AM | J | Jordan vs Algeria |
| 11:00 PM | K | Portugal vs Uzbekistan |
| June 24 — Wednesday | ||
| 02:00 AM | L | England vs Ghana |
| 05:00 AM | L | Panama vs Croatia |
| 08:00 AM | A | Colombia vs Congo DR |
| June 25 — Thursday | ||
| 01:00 AM | B | Switzerland vs Canada |
| 01:00 AM | B | Bosnia vs Qatar |
| 04:00 AM | C | Scotland vs Brazil |
| 04:00 AM | C | Morocco vs Haiti |
| June 25 (BST) — cont. / June 25 — Thursday | ||
| 04:00 AM | C | Morocco vs Haiti |
| 07:00 AM | A | South Africa vs South Korea |
| 07:00 AM | A | Czechia vs Mexico |
| June 26 — Friday | ||
| 02:00 AM | E | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast |
| 02:00 AM | F | Ecuador vs Germany |
| 05:00 AM | F | Tunisia vs Netherlands |
| 05:00 AM | F | Japan vs Sweden |
| 08:00 AM | D | Turkey vs USA |
| 08:00 AM | D | Paraguay vs Australia |
| June 27 — Saturday | ||
| 01:00 AM | I | Norway vs France |
| 01:00 AM | I | Senegal vs Iraq |
| 06:00 AM | H | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia |
| 06:00 AM | H | Uruguay vs Spain |
| 09:00 AM | G | New Zealand vs Belgium |
| 09:00 AM | G | Egypt vs Iraq |
| June 28 — Sunday | ||
| 03:00 AM | L | Panama vs England |
| 03:00 AM | L | Croatia vs Ghana |
| 05:30 AM | K | Colombia vs Portugal |
| 05:30 AM | K | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan |
| 08:00 AM | J | Algeria vs Austria |
| 08:00 AM | J | Jordan vs Argentina |
Popular Teams — Group Stage Schedule in Bangladesh Time
Bangladesh's football community is famously split between two great loyalties — Argentina and Brazil. But a significant share of fans also follow France, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and England. Here is the full group stage schedule for each team, with all times in BST.
Must-Watch Matches for Bangladesh Football Fans
"Once every four years, a nation's sleep schedule bends around football. Bangladesh has always been willing to bend the most."
— On the tradition of World Cup watching in BangladeshNot all group stage matches carry equal weight. For Bangladeshi fans, these are the fixtures worth staying up for:
- Argentina vs Algeria — June 17, 07:00 AM BST. Argentina's first match in Group J, and a reasonable time slot — morning viewers can catch this one without sacrificing the whole night.
- Brazil vs Morocco — June 14, 04:00 AM BST. Brazil's opening match against a talented Moroccan side that shocked the world in 2022. Early morning but worth the alarm.
- France vs Senegal — June 17, 01:00 AM BST. Two powerhouses of world football facing off in Group I. Late night but a match that will define the group.
- Portugal vs DR Congo — June 17, 11:00 PM BST. Portugal's opener — a late-evening match that falls at a more comfortable viewing time for fans in Bangladesh.
- Argentina vs Austria — June 22, 11:00 PM BST. Argentina's second group match. With the final match in sight, this could be a high-stakes fixture if Algeria surprised in the opener.
- Scotland vs Brazil — June 25, 04:00 AM BST. The final Group C decider. Brazil will likely be through by this point, but the table may still matter for Scotland and Morocco.
Tips for Watching the World Cup in Bangladesh
Know which matches matter to you
Staying awake for every match across 39 days is not realistic. Prioritise your favourite teams' three group games first, then adjust for knockouts.
Plan ahead for late-night matches
Matches in the 01:00–04:00 AM BST window require a full night sacrifice. Sleep in advance, or set an alarm and nap before the game.
Morning matches are the sweet spot
Many matches fall between 06:00 AM and 10:00 AM BST — perfect for early risers and not a late-night commitment. Check the team schedule for your team's morning slots.
Official broadcast details
Confirm the broadcast channels before the match. FIFA World Cup rights in Bangladesh are typically split across satellite and cable broadcasters — confirm current rights holders with your provider before the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do FIFA World Cup 2026 matches start in Bangladesh?
Match times in Bangladesh vary from as early as 01:00 AM to as late as 11:00 PM BST, depending on the venue in North America. Most matches fall in the early morning hours (01:00–09:00 AM BST) because North American evening kickoffs translate to late night and early morning in Bangladesh (UTC+6). Some afternoon matches in the US West Coast venues land in the early morning of Bangladesh time.
When is Argentina's first match in the 2026 World Cup in Bangladesh time?
Argentina's first match is against Algeria on June 17 at 07:00 AM Bangladesh Standard Time. This is one of the more convenient time slots for Bangladeshi fans — early morning rather than deep in the night. Argentina's second group match against Austria is at 11:00 PM on June 22 (BST), and their final group game against Jordan is at 08:00 AM on June 28 (BST).
When does Brazil play their first match in the 2026 World Cup?
Brazil's first group stage match is against Morocco on June 14 at 04:00 AM Bangladesh Standard Time. Their second match is against Haiti on June 20 at 06:30 AM BST. The final group decider is against Scotland on June 25 at 04:00 AM BST.
Why is FIFA World Cup 2026 bigger than previous tournaments?
The 2026 edition expanded the tournament from 32 teams to 48 for the first time in history. This means 16 additional countries are competing, more matches (104 total, up from 64 in 2022), and a new knockout stage called the Round of 32, which takes place before the Round of 16. The expanded format gives more nations a chance to compete and produces more matches across the tournament's 39 days.
Where is FIFA World Cup 2026 being hosted?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted across three countries: the United States (11 venues), Mexico (3 venues), and Canada (2 venues). This makes it the first World Cup hosted by three nations simultaneously. The opening match was held at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The final on July 19, 2026 will be at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
What is the time zone for Bangladesh for the World Cup?
Bangladesh uses Bangladesh Standard Time (BST), which is UTC+6. This means Bangladesh is 10 hours ahead of the US East Coast (EDT, UTC−4), 11 hours ahead of US Central time (CDT, UTC−5), and 13 hours ahead of US Pacific time (PDT, UTC−7). To convert any North American kickoff to Bangladesh time, add 10–13 hours depending on the venue's time zone. If the result is past midnight, the match falls on the next calendar day in Bangladesh.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final in Bangladesh time?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final takes place on July 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time (19:00 UTC) at the New York New Jersey Stadium. In Bangladesh Standard Time (UTC+6), that is 01:00 AM on July 20, 2026 — late night into early morning. It is a match worth staying up for.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
48 national teams are competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it the largest World Cup in history. The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups (A through L) of