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orywireThe 2026 FIFA World Cup starts June 11 with Mexico vs. South Africa, followed by the U.S. opener against Paraguay on June 12. Here are the first games, kickoff times, TV channels and streaming options for U.S. viewers.
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.
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.
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.
All times are Eastern. English-language TV and streaming listings below are based on FOX and FOX Sports schedule pages.
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.
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.
The United States plays Türkiye on Thursday, June 25, at 10 p.m. ET in its final World Cup Group D match. The USMNT has already won the group and is set for a Round of 32 match on July 1.
Belgium and Iran meet Sunday in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match at Los Angeles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, with English-language coverage listed on FS1 and streaming options through FOX One and FOX Sports.
Once the tournament begins, a schedule guide should be updated if a match is live, final or moved to a different channel.
Fans at Houston Stadium were told to shelter in place after the Netherlands-Sweden World Cup match because of lightning in the area. The match had already ended, while weather also disrupted FIFA Fan Festival Houston.
