World Cup 2026 Schedule: Opening Match, USA Opener, Kickoff Times and How to Watch

The 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule starts Thursday, June 11, with Mexico vs. South Africa at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. The U.S. men's national team opens the next night against Paraguay at 9 p.m. ET, also on FOX, according to FOX's official World Cup listings.

Opening match time and channel

The first match is Mexico vs. South Africa on Thursday, June 11, at Mexico City Stadium, the venue also known as Estadio Azteca. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

FOX lists the match on FOX and FOX One. FOX Sports also says Tubi will simulcast the opening ceremonies and Mexico vs. South Africa for free, along with the U.S. opener the next day.

USA opener vs. Paraguay

The USA opens Group D against Paraguay on Friday, June 12, at Los Angeles Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

FOX says the U.S. opener will air on FOX, with a three-hour pregame show beginning at 6 p.m. ET. The match is also listed for streaming on FOX One, and FOX Sports says Tubi will carry a free simulcast.

The U.S. is in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye.

First World Cup 2026 games to know

All times are Eastern. English-language TV and streaming listings below are based on FOX and FOX Sports schedule pages.

• Thursday, June 11 — Mexico vs. South Africa — 3 p.m. ET — Mexico City Stadium — FOX, Tubi, FOX One
• Thursday, June 11 — South Korea vs. Czechia — 10 p.m. ET — Guadalajara Stadium — FS1, FOX One
• Friday, June 12 — Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — 3 p.m. ET — Toronto Stadium — FOX, FOX One
• Friday, June 12 — USA vs. Paraguay — 9 p.m. ET — Los Angeles Stadium — FOX, Tubi, FOX One
• Saturday, June 13 — Qatar vs. Switzerland — 3 p.m. ET — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium — FOX, FOX One
• Saturday, June 13 — Brazil vs. Morocco — 6 p.m. ET — New York New Jersey Stadium — FOX, FOX One
• Saturday, June 13 — Haiti vs. Scotland — 9 p.m. ET — Boston Stadium — FOX, FOX One
• Sunday, June 14 — Australia vs. Türkiye — 12 a.m. ET — BC Place Vancouver — FOX, FOX One

How to watch the World Cup in the U.S.

FOX Sports has the English-language U.S. broadcast. FOX says all 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX and FS1, with live and on-demand streaming on FOX One and the FOX Sports App.

For Spanish-language coverage, Telemundo says the group stage will air across Telemundo and Universo and stream on Peacock and the Telemundo app. NBC Sports Press Box also says Peacock will carry Telemundo's coverage of all 104 World Cup matches live in Spanish.

What to check before kickoff

Schedules can update inside TV provider guides and streaming apps, especially where a listing includes both pregame coverage and kickoff. Before matchday, viewers should check FOX, FS1, FOX One, Telemundo, Universo, Peacock or their TV provider for the final live-event tile.