TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to kick off on Friday, June 12, at 02:00 AM Western Indonesia Time (WIB), with host nation Mexico taking on South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
The opening match will be a rematch of the 2010 World Cup curtain-raiser, when South Africa and Mexico played to a 1-1 draw.
A total of 24 matches will be played during the tournament's opening week, running from June 12 to June 18.
Following Mexico's opening fixture, the other two host nations will begin their campaigns on June 13. Canada will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B at Toronto Stadium, while the United States will take on Paraguay in Group D at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood.
One of the standout matches of the first weekend will see five-time world champions Brazil face Morocco on June 14. Morocco reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup and became the first African nation to achieve the feat.
The opening week will also feature two World Cup debutants. Curaçao will make its tournament debut against four-time champions Germany on June 15, while Cape Verde will face reigning European champions Spain later that day.
Other notable fixtures include the Netherlands against Japan, France versus African champions Senegal, and defending champions Argentina against Algeria.
Football fans will also be treated to the first appearances of global stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Argentina begin their title defense against Algeria on June 17, while Ronaldo's Portugal face DR Congo on June 18.
The opening week's marquee fixtures conclude with England taking on Croatia, a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal won 2-1 by Croatia.
Opening Week Match Schedule (Indonesia Time/WIB)
June 12
Mexico vs South Africa — 02:00 AM
South Korea vs Czech Republic — 09:00 AM
June 13
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 02:00 AM
United States vs Paraguay — 08:00 AM
June 14
Qatar vs Switzerland — 02:00 AM
Brazil vs Morocco — 05:00 AM
Haiti vs Scotland — 08:00 AM
Australia vs Türkiye — 11:00 AM
June 15
Germany vs Curaçao — 12:00 AM
Netherlands vs Japan — 03:00 AM
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — 06:00 AM
Sweden vs Tunisia — 09:00 AM
Spain vs Cape Verde — 11:00 PM
June 16
Belgium vs Egypt — 02:00 AM
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — 05:00 AM
Iran vs New Zealand — 08:00 AM
June 17
France vs Senegal — 02:00 AM
Iraq vs Norway — 05:00 AM
Argentina vs Algeria — 08:00 AM
Austria vs Jordan — 11:00 AM
June 18
Portugal vs DR Congo — 12:00 AM
England vs Croatia — 03:00 AM
Ghana vs Panama — 06:00 AM
Uzbekistan vs Colombia — 09:00 AM
Read: Seven Sibling Pairs Set to Play at the 2026 World Cup
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