The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the biggest football tournament ever staged, and Singapore fans get to watch every single game of it live, starting 12 June 2026. Argentina return to defend the trophy they won so dramatically in Qatar. France are hunting revenge. Japan, South Korea and Australia arrive with more quality than any Asian contingent in World Cup history.

This guide covers everything you need: host cities and venues, the full fixture schedule with Singapore kickoff times, all 48 qualified teams, and exactly where to watch, free on Channel 5 or with Mediacorp's FIFA World Cup 2026™ Season Pass through StarHub TV+.

Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026?

🌎 Host Nations

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it the first World Cup ever co-hosted by 3 nations. It runs from 12 June to 20 July 2026 across 16 cities, making it the most geographically spread tournament in the competition's history.

⚽ Opening Match

The opening match kicks off at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June 2026 local time (3:00am SGT on 12 June 2026).

🏆 The Final

The Final is played on 19 July 2026 local time (3:00am SGT on 20 July 2026) at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

Country	Host Cities	Key Venues
🇺🇸 United States (11 cities)	Atlanta, Boston, Dallas Houston, Kansas City Los Angeles, Miami New York/New Jersey Philadelphia, Seattle San Francisco Bay Area	MetLife Stadium (Final) SoFi Stadium LA AT&T Stadium Dallas
🇨🇦 Canada (2 cities)	Toronto Vancouver	BC Place (Vancouver) BMO Field (Toronto)
🇲🇽 Mexico (3 cities)	Guadalajara Mexico City Monterrey	Estadio Azteca (Opening) Estadio Akron Estadio BBVA

💡 Mexico makes World Cup history
By hosting in 2026, Mexico becomes the first country to host or co-host the men's FIFA World Cup 3 times, after 1970 and 1986.

When is the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The tournament runs from 12 June to 20 July 2026.
That is 39 days and 104 matches in total. For Singapore fans, all live kickoffs fall in North American time zones, which means most group stage matches land between 6am and 11am SGT. Video on Demand via StarHub TV+ means you can replay any match you sleep through.

Who Won the Last FIFA World Cup?

🇦🇷

Argentina. Qatar 2022

A final that most football fans will not forget as long as they live. France led 2-0 going into the final 10 minutes of normal time. Then Kylian Mbappé scored twice in 97 seconds, a penalty and then a stunning volley, to drag the game level at 2-2.

In extra time, Lionel Messi restored Argentina's lead. Mbappé answered with a third. At 3-3, the world held its breath through a penalty shootout where 2 French kicks hit the post or missed the mark.

Argentina won 4-2 on penalties and Messi, 35 years old and playing in what he believed was his final World Cup, finally lifted the one trophy that had spent his whole career eluding him.

💡

The rematch is on
Argentina come to 2026 as defending champions, drawn in Group J with Algeria, Austria, and first-time qualifier Jordan. France, still carrying the sting of that Qatar defeat, are in Group I against Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

If both sides navigate their groups, as most expect them to, the bracket gives a realistic path to a semi-final meeting. Watch those groups from 17 June SGT (16 June US local time).

2026 World Cup Tournament Format

The 2026 format is new and worth understanding before the tournament starts. For the first time, 48 teams compete instead of the usual 32, which means more matches, more nations, and a new Round of 32 knockout stage that has never existed before.

Group Stage: 12 Jun – 28 Jun

48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays 3 matches. The top 2 teams from each group advance automatically. The 8 best third-placed teams across all groups also advance, giving 32 teams in total.

Round of 32: 28 Jun – 3 Jul

Brand new to 2026. All 32 remaining teams play single-elimination matches. Lose once and you are out.

Round of 16: 4 Jul – 7 Jul

16 teams remain. Single elimination continues.

Quarter-finals: 9 Jul – 11 Jul

8 teams, 4 matches. The last stage before the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: 14–15 Jul

4 teams, 2 matches. The winners advance to the Final; the losers play the Bronze Final.

Bronze Final & Final: 18–19 Jul

The Bronze Final is played in Miami on 18 July. The FIFA World Cup Final takes place at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey on 19 July 2026, approximately 8am SGT.

How World Cup qualification works

The road to North America spanned 2.5 years, starting in September 2023. Each of the six FIFA confederations utilized unique formats to determine their direct representatives, while the final two "wildcard" tickets were punched in Mexico.

Confederation	Spots	Qualified Teams & Format
UEFA Europe	16	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇫🇷🇩🇪🇪🇸🇵🇹🇳🇱🇧🇪🇭🇷🇳🇴🇦🇹🇨🇭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇸🇪🇹🇷🇨🇿🇧🇦 Format: 12 groups of 4–5. Group winners qualify directly. 4 more spots via UEFA playoffs (16 teams).
CAF Africa	9	🇲🇦🇹🇳🇪🇬🇩🇿🇬🇭🇨🇻🇿🇦🇸🇳🇨🇮🇨🇩 Format: 53 teams in 9 groups. Group winners qualify. 4 best runners-up enter a playoff for 1 inter-confederation spot.
AFC Asia	8	🇯🇵🇮🇷🇰🇷🇺🇿🇦🇺🇯🇴🇶🇦🇸🇦🇮🇶 Format: 5 rounds. Top 2 from each of 3 Round 3 groups qualify directly. Further rounds determine remaining spots.
CONMEBOL S. America	6	🇦🇷🇧🇷🇨🇴🇪🇨🇵🇾🇺🇾 Format: Single league of 10 teams. Top 6 qualify directly. 7th goes to inter-confederation playoff.
CONCACAF N. & C. America	3 + 3 hosts	🇺🇸🇨🇦🇲🇽 + 🇨🇼🇭🇹🇵🇦 Format: 3 rounds. Hosts auto-qualify. 3 more spots via qualifying; runners-up to inter-confederation playoff.
OFC Oceania	1	🇳🇿 Format: 3 rounds. First-ever guaranteed OFC berth. New Zealand qualified by beating New Caledonia 3-0.

Who has qualified for the
FIFA World Cup 2026?

All 48 spots are confirmed. The 3 host nations (USA, Canada, and Mexico) qualified automatically. The remaining 45 teams earned their places through regional qualifying campaigns, with the final 2 spots decided through an inter-confederation playoff in March 2026.

Qualification Routes: HOST DIRECT PLAYOFF

GROUP A

🇲🇽 Mexico HOST

Third time hosting; best result QF in 1970 & 1986

🇿🇦 South Africa DIRECT

Ended 16-year absence; 3-0 win over Rwanda sealed it

🇰🇷 South Korea DIRECT

11th consecutive World Cup; 2-0 win over Iraq

🇨🇿 Czechia DIRECT

First time since 2006; penalty shootout win over Denmark

GROUP G

🇧🇪 Belgium DIRECT

7-0 over Liechtenstein; emphatic qualification

🇪🇬 Egypt DIRECT

Salah led Egypt back after missing Qatar 2022

🇮🇷 Iran DIRECT

4th successive; dramatic 2-2 vs Uzbekistan

🇳🇿 New Zealand DIRECT

3-0 over New Caledonia; OFC's first guaranteed berth

GROUP B

🇨🇦 Canada HOST

First back-to-back World Cups; only 3rd appearance

🇧🇦 Bosnia PLAYOFF

Stunned Italy on penalties in Path A playoff final

🇶🇦 Qatar DIRECT

First time qualifying; 2-1 win over UAE in 4th round

🇨🇭 Switzerland DIRECT

6th successive World Cup; unbeaten in qualifying

GROUP H

🇪🇸 Spain DIRECT

13th successive; reigning European champions

🇨🇻 Cape Verde DIRECT

World Cup debut; 2nd smallest nation ever to qualify

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia DIRECT

3rd consecutive; 0-0 vs Iraq sealed qualification

🇺🇾 Uruguay DIRECT

5th successive; 3-0 win over Peru

GROUP C

🇧🇷 Brazil DIRECT

Record 22nd World Cup; 1-0 over Paraguay

🇲🇦 Morocco DIRECT

First African team to qualify; 5-0 win over Niger

🇭🇹 Haiti DIRECT

Back for the first time since 1974

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland DIRECT

First since 1998; beat Denmark 4-2

GROUP I

🇫🇷 France DIRECT

4-0 over Ukraine; Mbappé scored twice

🇸🇳 Senegal DIRECT

4th World Cup; 4-0 over Mauritania

🇮🇶 Iraq PLAYOFF

First in 40 years; beat Bolivia 2-1 in final

🇳🇴 Norway DIRECT

First since 1998; 4-1 win over Italy in Milan

GROUP D

🇺🇸 USA HOST

12th World Cup; second on home soil after 1994

🇵🇾 Paraguay DIRECT

First World Cup since 2010; 0-0 draw vs Ecuador

🇦🇺 Australia DIRECT

6th successive; comeback 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia

🇹🇷 Türkiye PLAYOFF

Back for first time since 2002; beat Kosovo in playoffs

GROUP J

🇦🇷 Argentina 🏆 DIRECT

Defending champions; first CONMEBOL team to qualify

🇩🇿 Algeria DIRECT

First since 2014; won 7 of first 9 qualifiers

🇦🇹 Austria DIRECT

First since 1998; 1-1 vs Bosnia sealed top spot

🇯🇴 Jordan DIRECT

World Cup debut; 3-0 win over Oman

GROUP E

🇩🇪 Germany DIRECT

19th consecutive World Cup; 6-0 over Slovakia

🇨🇼 Curaçao DIRECT

World Cup debut; smallest nation ever to qualify

🇨🇮 Ivory Coast DIRECT

First since 2014; 3-0 over Kenya clinched it

🇪🇨 Ecuador DIRECT

Fifth World Cup this century; 0-0 vs Peru

GROUP K

🇵🇹 Portugal DIRECT

9th World Cup; emphatic 9-1 win over Armenia

🇨🇩 DR Congo PLAYOFF

First since 1974; beat Jamaica in playoffs

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan DIRECT

World Cup debut; top-two finish in AFC Round 3

🇨🇴 Colombia DIRECT

Back after missing 2022; 3-0 vs Bolivia

GROUP F

🇳🇱 Netherlands DIRECT

12th World Cup; 4-0 over Lithuania

🇯🇵 Japan DIRECT

8th successive; first team in world to qualify

🇸🇪 Sweden PLAYOFF

Ended 8-year absence; Gyokeres late winner vs Poland

🇹🇳 Tunisia DIRECT

Last-gasp win vs Equatorial Guinea sealed it

GROUP L

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England DIRECT

8th successive World Cup appearance

🇭🇷 Croatia DIRECT

World Cup giants; qualified with game to spare

🇬🇭 Ghana DIRECT

Back-to-back appearances for the Black Stars

🇨🇱 Chile DIRECT

Return to world stage after missing 2018 and 2022

Group Stage Fixtures

Mexico City, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York: EDT/CDT (SGT −12 to −13hrs)
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver: PDT (SGT −15hrs)

Date & K.O. Time (SG)	Match	Group
MATCHDAY 1: 12–18 JUN 2026
12 Jun, 3:00am	🇲🇽 Mexico v South Africa 🇿🇦	A
12 Jun, 10:00am	🇰🇷 South Korea v Play-off	A
13 Jun, 3:00am	🇨🇦 Canada v Play-off	B
13 Jun, 9:00am	🇺🇸 United States v Paraguay 🇵🇾	D
14 Jun, 3:00am	🇶🇦 Qatar v Switzerland 🇨🇭	B
14 Jun, 6:00am	🇧🇷 Brazil v Morocco 🇲🇦	C
14 Jun, 9:00am	🇭🇹 Haiti v Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿	C
14 Jun, 12:00pm	🇦🇺 Australia v Türkiye 🇹🇷	D
15 Jun, 1:00am	🇩🇪 Germany v Curaçao 🇨🇼	E
15 Jun, 4:00am	🇨🇮 Ivory Coast v Ecuador 🇪🇨	E
15 Jun, 7:00am	🇸🇪 Sweden v Tunisia 🇹🇳	F
15 Jun, 10:00am	🇵🇹 Portugal v Czechia 🇨🇿	K
16 Jun, 12:00am	🇪🇸 Spain v Cape Verde 🇨🇻	H
16 Jun, 3:00am	🇧🇪 Belgium v Egypt 🇪🇬	G
16 Jun, 6:00am	🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia v Uruguay 🇺🇾	H
16 Jun, 9:00am	🇮🇷 Iran v New Zealand 🇳🇿	G
17 Jun, 3:00am	🇫🇷 France v Senegal 🇸🇳	I
17 Jun, 6:00am	Play-off v Norway 🇳🇴	I
17 Jun, 9:00am	🇦🇷 Argentina v Algeria 🇩🇿	J
17 Jun, 12:00pm	🇦🇹 Austria v Jordan 🇯🇴	J
18 Jun, 1:00am	🇵🇹 Portugal v Play-off	K
18 Jun, 4:00am	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England v Croatia 🇭🇷	L
18 Jun, 7:00am	🇬🇭 Ghana v Panama 🇵🇦	L
18 Jun, 10:00am	🇺🇿 Uzbekistan v Colombia 🇨🇴	K
MATCHDAY 2: 19–24 JUN 2026
19 Jun, 12:00am	Play-off v South Africa 🇿🇦	A
19 Jun, 3:00am	🇨🇭 Switzerland v Play-off	B
19 Jun, 6:00am	🇨🇦 Canada v Qatar 🇶🇦	B
19 Jun, 9:00am	🇲🇽 Mexico v South Korea 🇰🇷	A
20 Jun, 3:00am	🇺🇸 USA v Australia 🇦🇺	D
20 Jun, 6:00am	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland v Morocco 🇲🇦	C
20 Jun, 9:00am	🇧🇷 Brazil v Haiti 🇭🇹	C
20 Jun, 12:00pm	Play-off v Paraguay 🇵🇾	D
21 Jun, 1:00am	🇳🇱 Netherlands v Play-off	F
21 Jun, 4:00am	🇩🇪 Germany v Ivory Coast 🇨🇮	E
21 Jun, 8:00am	🇪🇨 Ecuador v Curaçao 🇨🇼	E
21 Jun, 12:00pm	🇹🇳 Tunisia v Japan 🇯🇵	F
22 Jun, 12:00am	🇪🇸 Spain v Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦	H
22 Jun, 3:00am	🇧🇪 Belgium v Iran 🇮🇷	G
22 Jun, 6:00am	🇺🇾 Uruguay v Cape Verde 🇨🇻	H
22 Jun, 9:00am	🇳🇿 New Zealand v Egypt 🇪🇬	G
23 Jun, 1:00am	🇦🇷 Argentina v Austria 🇦🇹	J
23 Jun, 5:00am	🇫🇷 France v Play-off	I
23 Jun, 8:00am	🇳🇴 Norway v Senegal 🇸🇳	I
23 Jun, 11:00am	🇯🇴 Jordan v Algeria 🇩🇿	J
24 Jun, 1:00am	🇵🇹 Portugal v Uzbekistan 🇺🇿	K
24 Jun, 4:00am	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England v Ghana 🇬🇭	L
24 Jun, 7:00am	🇵🇦 Panama v Croatia 🇭🇷	L
24 Jun, 10:00am	🇨🇴 Colombia v Play-off	K
MATCHDAY 3: 25–28 JUN 2026
25 Jun, 3:00am	🇨🇭 Switzerland v Canada 🇨🇦	B
25 Jun, 3:00am	Play-off v Qatar 🇶🇦	B
25 Jun, 6:00am	🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland v Brazil 🇧🇷	C
25 Jun, 6:00am	🇲🇦 Morocco v Haiti 🇭🇹	C
25 Jun, 9:00am	Play-off v Mexico 🇲🇽	A
25 Jun, 9:00am	🇿🇦 South Africa v South Korea 🇰🇷	A
26 Jun, 4:00am	🇨🇼 Curaçao v Ivory Coast 🇨🇮	E
26 Jun, 4:00am	🇪🇨 Ecuador v Germany 🇩🇪	E
26 Jun, 7:00am	🇯🇵 Japan v Play-off	F
26 Jun, 7:00am	🇹🇳 Tunisia v Netherlands 🇳🇱	F
26 Jun, 10:00am	Play-off v USA 🇺🇸	D
26 Jun, 10:00am	🇵🇾 Paraguay v Australia 🇦🇺	D
27 Jun, 3:00am	🇳🇴 Norway v France 🇫🇷	I
27 Jun, 3:00am	🇸🇳 Senegal v Play-off	I
27 Jun, 8:00am	🇨🇻 Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦	H
27 Jun, 8:00am	🇺🇾 Uruguay v Spain 🇪🇸	H
27 Jun, 11:00am	🇪🇬 Egypt v Iran 🇮🇷	G
27 Jun, 11:00am	🇳🇿 New Zealand v Belgium 🇧🇪	G
28 Jun, 5:00am	🇵🇦 Panama v England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	L
28 Jun, 5:00am	🇭🇷 Croatia v Ghana 🇬🇭	L
28 Jun, 7:30am	🇨🇴 Colombia v Portugal 🇵🇹	K
28 Jun, 7:30am	Play-off v Uzbekistan 🇺🇿	K
28 Jun, 10:00am	🇩🇿 Algeria v Austria 🇦🇹	J
28 Jun, 10:00am	🇯🇴 Jordan v Argentina 🇦🇷	J

Where to watch the
FIFA World Cup 2026 in Singapore?

Mediacorp has secured the broadcast rights to all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Singapore, making mewatch and Channel 5 the official home of the tournament. To enjoy full access to all 104 matches live, you can subscribe via StarHub as an official Mediacorp carriage partner.

Mediacorp's FIFA World Cup 2026™ Season Pass

Coverage: All 104 matches live in Full HD on CH 251 and CH 252. Video on Demand to replay matches. Pre-event programmes from 5 June 2026

Cost: S$98 early bird (2 Apr – 30 Apr) / S$118 from 1 May 2026

How to watch: TV+ box (CH 251 & CH 252), StarHub TV+ app, or starhubtvplus.com

Get Season Pass

🛠️ Already a StarHub customer?

Existing StarHub broadband or mobile subscribers get same-day activation.
No installation required.
TV+ box customers are activated within 20 minutes.
Sign up at here, via the StarHub App, or on your TV+ box under Store.
Tune to CH 251 or CH 252 from 12 June 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast start in Singapore?

Live match broadcasts on StarHub begin on 12 June 2026 (SGT), running through to 20 July 2026. Pre-event programming on CH 251 starts from 5 June 2026. Check your TV guide for the full schedule. The tournament opener, Mexico v South Africa, kicks off at 3:00am SGT on 12 June. The Final is at 3:00am SGT on 20 July (19 July US local time).

Q How many matches are free to watch in Singapore?

28 matches are free to air on Mediacorp Channel 5. These include the Opening Match (Mexico v South Africa), 23 Group Stage games, both Semi-Finals, the Third-Place Play-off, and the Final. No subscription needed. Tune to Channel 5 or stream free on the mewatch app.

Q How much does Mediacorp's FIFA World Cup 2026™ Season Pass cost on StarHub?

The Season Pass is Mediacorp's FIFA World Cup 2026 pass, available through StarHub as a carriage partner at the same price: S$98 early bird (2 April to 30 April 2026) or S$118 at retail price (1 May to 20 July 2026). Both new and existing StarHub customers can sign up. Visit starhub.com/fifaworldcup2026 to subscribe.

Q How quickly is StarHub TV+ activated after I sign up?

It depends on your existing StarHub services. Existing TV+ customers are activated within 20 minutes. Tune to CH 251 on your set-top box to verify. Existing StarHub broadband or mobile subscribers (without TV) are activated the same day. Brand new customers with no existing StarHub services will need a TV+ installation, scheduled within 14 working days. A confirmation SMS is sent within 24 hours of sign-up.

Q How do I watch on my phone, laptop, or Smart TV?

On mobile: download the StarHub TV+ app from the App Store or Google Play, log in with your Hub iD, go to the Sports tab, and select CH 251 from 12 June 2026. On desktop or laptop: visit starhubtvplus.com and log in with your Hub iD. On Smart TV: use the StarHub TV+ app or your TV+ set-top box on CH 251 or CH 252.

Q Can I watch StarHub TV+ if I am travelling overseas?

No. StarHub is the carriage partner for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Singapore only. You cannot use StarHub TV+ to watch matches while overseas. If you are travelling during the tournament, you will need to access the broadcast through the rights holder in the country you are visiting.

Q Which Asian teams qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026?

9 Asian teams qualified, the most the region has ever had at a single World Cup. Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and Jordan came through the AFC qualifying rounds directly. Iraq earned the 9th spot by beating Bolivia 2-1 in the FIFA Inter-Confederation Playoff final in Monterrey, March 2026. Jordan and Uzbekistan both make their World Cup debut.

Watch All 104 World Cup Matches with StarHub

StarHub is an official broadcast partner for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Singapore. Catch every match in Full HD, from the group stage all the way to the Final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July.

OFFICIAL CARRIAGE PARTNER

Mediacorp's FIFA World Cup 2026™ Season Pass: from S$98

All 104 matches live in Full HD on CH 251 and CH 252. Video on Demand for match replays. Pre-event programming from 5 June 2026. Existing TV+ customers activated within 20 minutes. Existing broadband or mobile subscribers activated same day.

View World Cup Packages

Disclaimer:
This content is provided for general information and convenience. While we take care in preparing our articles, readers should refer to official sources or professional advice for specific, up-to-date details.

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FIFA World Cup 2026: Dates, Teams & Where to Watch

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from 12 June to 20 July across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Here's your complete Singapore guide: all 48 teams, the full fixture schedule, and where to watch free or with a paid subscription.