What are the World Cup 2026 kick-off times in South Africa (SAST, UTC+2)?

SAST is UTC+2 with no daylight saving, so South African kick-off times stay fixed all tournament. The opener Mexico vs South Africa is 21:00 SAST (Thu 11 June 2026). Eastern US venues (MetLife, Mercedes-Benz, NRG, Hard Rock, Lincoln Financial) deliver matches at 21:00–22:00 SAST. Central US (AT&T Dallas, Arrowhead Kansas City) at 22:00–01:00 SAST. Western US (SoFi LA, Levi's Bay Area, Lumen Seattle) is the painful band, 03:00–05:00 SAST. The fixture list below shows the SAST time for all 72 group-stage matches end-to-end.

Where can I find FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures from 11 June to 19 July in South African time?

Right here. Every group-stage fixture, 11 June (Mexico vs South Africa opener at Estadio Banorte) through 27 June, is converted to SAST below, with knockout fixtures added as the bracket resolves. Edges built this because Google SERP for "WC2026 fixtures SAST" still returns US sportsbook pages quoting US Eastern times, useless for SA punters. The list is grouped by SAST date so the early-morning kickoffs land on the same day-card as the matches that finish before the kettle goes on.

What time does the World Cup 2026 opener kick off in South Africa?

Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Banorte (Estadio Azteca), Mexico City, kicks off at 21:00 SAST on Thursday 11 June 2026. Mexico City sits at SAST −8 in June, so 21:00 SAST is 13:00 local Mexico time, an afternoon kick-off there, primetime here. SAST is UTC+2; SA does not observe daylight saving so the conversion holds for the whole tournament window 11 June to 19 July.

Are all World Cup 2026 matches at SA-friendly times?

No. The opener at 21:00 SAST is the SA-primetime exception. US East Coast venues typically deliver matches at 21:00–22:00 SAST. US West Coast venues push matches into the early-morning band, kick-offs at 03:00–05:00 SAST. The fixture table below tags each match with its SAST kick-off so you can plan watch parties (Eastern-venue evenings) or sleep through the bad ones (Western-venue Pacific Time matches).

What time zones do the host cities use?

Five US time zones plus Mexico Central and Canadian Pacific/Eastern. Compared to SAST: Mexico City sits at SAST −8 in June; Eastern US (Atlanta, Miami, NY/NJ, Boston, Philly) at SAST −6; Central US (Dallas, Kansas City, Houston) at SAST −7; Mountain US at SAST −8; Pacific (LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver) at SAST −9. Toronto matches the East Coast at SAST −6.

When is the World Cup 2026 final, and what time is it for SA viewers?

Sunday 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kick-off 15:00 local Eastern Time = 21:00 SAST. Comfortable SA Sunday evening watch, final whistle by 23:00 SAST, extra time and penalties push it to ~00:00 SAST Monday at the latest. The full SA-time fixture list below confirms it.

fixtures · south african standard time · UTC+2

FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures, 11 June to 19 July, in South African time.

Every kick-off time for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in South Africa, converted from US, Mexico and Canada host venues to SAST (UTC+2, no daylight saving). Group stage 11–27 June, round of 32 from 28 June, final on Sunday 19 July at 21:00 SAST. The desk's pick + sample price context next to each fixture until verified partner odds land.

Why this page exists: Google SERP for World Cup 2026 kickoff times in South Africa still returns US sportsbook pages quoting Eastern Time. None of them convert to SAST. Edges does, for every group-stage fixture.

72 group-stage fixtures shown · knockouts populate as draws resolve · all kick-offs SAST (UTC+2) · venues + groups in line

Thursday, 11 June

2026-06-11

21:00 Mexico vs South Africa Group A · Estadio Banorte (Azteca) TBC Desk verdict pending

Friday, 12 June

2026-06-12

Saturday, 13 June

2026-06-13

Sunday, 14 June

2026-06-14

Monday, 15 June

2026-06-15

Tuesday, 16 June

2026-06-16

Wednesday, 17 June

2026-06-17

Thursday, 18 June

2026-06-18

Friday, 19 June

2026-06-19

Saturday, 20 June

2026-06-20

Sunday, 21 June

2026-06-21

Monday, 22 June

2026-06-22

Tuesday, 23 June

2026-06-23

Wednesday, 24 June

2026-06-24

Thursday, 25 June

2026-06-25

Friday, 26 June

2026-06-26

Saturday, 27 June

2026-06-27

Sunday, 28 June

2026-06-28

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