World Cup 2026 Countdown: How to Watch FIFA LIVE in India on TV, Mobile; Match-wise Full List in IST Timing
Football fans in India are gearing up for a month-long spectacle as the FIFA World Cup 2026 gets underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament will be historic for several reasons, including the introduction of an expanded 48-team format, making it the biggest FIFA World Cup ever held.
World Cup 2026 Begins Today: When and Where to Watch FIFA Matches Live in India
With matches spread across multiple North American cities and time zones, Indian viewers will need to prepare for several late-night and early-morning kick-offs. From live TV broadcasts and online streaming to IST match timings and knockout-stage schedules, here is everything fans need to know.
FIFA World Cup LIVE Streaming: Where to Watch Football World Cup 2026 in India?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be broadcast live in India on Zee’s newly launched Unite8 Sports network. Viewers can watch the matches on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD.
For digital audiences, all matches will be streamed live on the Zee5 app and website, allowing fans to follow the action on smartphones, tablets, laptops and smart TVs.
Ahead of the tournament, Zee introduced the Unite8 Sports channels to strengthen its sports portfolio. Match coverage will be available with commentary in both English and Hindi, catering to a wider audience across the country.
FIFA World Cup Match Indian Timings in IST
The FIFA World Cup schedule has been released in Eastern Time (ET), which is commonly used across several host cities in North America. During the tournament period, India is 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Eastern Time.
As a result, many afternoon and evening matches in North America will be played late at night or in the early hours of the morning in India.
For Indian viewers, the most common kick-off slots will be:
9:30 PM IST
10:30 PM IST
12:30 AM IST
1:30 AM IST
2:30 AM IST
5:30 AM IST
6:30 AM IST
7:30 AM IST
8:30 AM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Begins on June 12
The tournament kicks off on June 12 (IST) with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at Mexico City at 12:30 AM IST.
FIFA World Cup 2026 June 12 (Friday) Timings in India (IST)
12:30 AM IST – Mexico vs South Africa
7:30 AM IST – South Korea vs Czechia
June 13 (Saturday)
12:30 AM IST – Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
6:30 AM IST – USA vs Paraguay
June 14 (Sunday)
12:30 AM IST – Qatar vs Switzerland
3:30 AM IST – Brazil vs Morocco
6:30 AM IST – Haiti vs Scotland
9:30 AM IST – Australia vs Turkey
10:30 PM IST – Germany vs Curacao
June 15 (Monday)
1:30 AM IST – Netherlands vs Japan
4:30 AM IST – Ivory Coast vs Ecuador
7:30 AM IST – Sweden vs Tunisia
9:30 PM IST – Spain vs Cape Verde
June 16 (Tuesday)
12:30 AM IST – Belgium vs Egypt
3:30 AM IST – Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay
6:30 AM IST – Iran vs New Zealand
June 17 (Wednesday)
12:30 AM IST – France vs Senegal
3:30 AM IST – Iraq vs Norway
6:30 AM IST – Argentina vs Algeria
9:30 AM IST – Austria vs Jordan
10:30 PM IST – Portugal vs DR Congo
June 18 (Thursday)
1:30 AM IST – England vs Croatia
4:30 AM IST – Ghana vs Panama
7:30 AM IST – Uzbekistan vs Colombia
9:30 PM IST – Czechia vs South Africa
FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Schedule (IST)
Round of 32: June 29 – July 4
Round of 16: July 4 – July 8
Quarter-finals: July 10 – July 12
Semi-finals: July 15 & July 16
Third-place Playoff: July 19, 2:30 AM IST
Final: July 20, 12:30 AM IST (New Jersey)
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the Round of 32 will begin on June 29, reflecting the expanded 48-team tournament format.
The Round of 16 matches will be played between July 4 and July 8, followed by the quarter-finals from July 10 to July 12.
The semi-finals are scheduled for July 15 and July 16, while the third-place playoff will take place on July 19.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final is scheduled to be played on July 20 at 12:30 AM IST in New Jersey, where the next world champion will be crowned.
Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
The 2026 edition marks a major milestone in FIFA history as the tournament expands from 32 teams to 48 teams for the first time. The competition will feature more matches, more host cities and more participating nations than any previous World Cup.
