SportsMexico City Stadium, Mexico City
Your local time (UTC)
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC
Official time (America/Mexico_City)
Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 01:00 PM CST
Live countdown
Started live
14
Days
07
Hours
56
Minutes
19
Seconds
Local start time
What time is FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match?
Official schedule, local time conversion, live countdown, and calendar save link.
Quick answer
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match is listed for Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 01:00 PM CST. In your timezone, that is Thu, Jun 11, 2026, 07:00 PM UTC.
Venue or reference location: Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City.
Time details
- Official timezone
- America/Mexico_City
- Your timezone
- UTC
- Category
- Sports
About FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match
The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins with Mexico versus South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, June 11 at 13:00 local time. This page converts the official opening-match kickoff into your timezone.
Sports start times often depend on the host city, broadcast schedule, and local venue time. This page converts the official listing into a clean local answer so you can plan around kickoff, first pitch, tipoff, or the opening ceremony.
Detailed start time guide
The FIFA World Cup 2026 begins with hosts Mexico playing South Africa at Mexico City Stadium. The official 13:00 Mexico City kickoff is converted into your local timezone above.
Official opening match kickoff
Mexico versus South Africa kicks off at 13:00 local time on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The opening fixture starts the first 48-team FIFA World Cup and the tournament's 104-match schedule.
Opening ceremony versus kickoff
Tournament ceremonies and broadcast buildup may begin earlier than the match itself. The countdown on this page is built around the official football kickoff time.
Why local conversion matters
World Cup searches are global. A Mexico City afternoon kickoff reaches Europe in the evening and parts of Asia-Pacific overnight or the following local day, so the converted answer is more useful than a single official listing.
Mexico City
Official opening-match kickoff: 13:00 local time.
United States and Canada
Same calendar day, with the local hour depending on timezone.
Europe and Africa
Generally evening viewing time.
Asia-Pacific
Often overnight or the following local day.
Schedule sources
Use these official references to verify the event date, venue, and published schedule details.
How to use this start time
Check the local time
Use the converted time as the simplest answer for where you are now.
Save it
Add the event to your calendar so the timezone conversion follows you.
Share it
Send the page to someone in another country so they see the same event in their own timezone.
FAQ
+ When does the World Cup 2026 start?
The opening match is Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 13:00 local time in Mexico City.
+ Who plays in the World Cup 2026 opening match?
Hosts Mexico play South Africa in the opening match.
+ Where is the World Cup 2026 opening match?
The opening match is at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City.
+ Does this page show the opening match in my timezone?
Yes. The official Mexico City kickoff is converted automatically into your local timezone.
More sports start times
Keep exploring related events and countdowns.