The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the biggest sporting events in history, with matches taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For football fans in Pakistan, however, the tournament will require some late nights and early mornings due to the significant time difference between Pakistan and the host nations.
Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) is between nine and 12 hours ahead of the World Cup host cities. As a result, many matches scheduled in the evening in North America will be broadcast after midnight or during the early morning hours in Pakistan.
Why World Cup matches are late for Pakistan viewers
The United States, Canada and Mexico are located in time zones that are significantly behind Pakistan. Because of this difference:
Evening kick-offs in North America become overnight matches in Pakistan.
Many games will start between midnight and 7:00 a.m. PKT.
Several marquee clashes involving football giants will be played during early morning hours.
Football supporters in Pakistan have long been accustomed to watching major international events during the night, including previous FIFA World Cups, UEFA European Championships and UEFA Champions League matches.
Full FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage schedule in Pakistan time
The tournament's group stage will feature 72 matches spread across multiple venues in North America.
Pakistan viewers should note that some matches listed on international schedules may appear on the following day in Pakistan because of the time difference.
When checking match schedules, fans are advised to use Pakistan Standard Time (PKT) to avoid confusion regarding dates and kick-off times.
FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage schedule in Pakistan time
All 72 group-stage fixtures in Pakistan Standard Time (PKT)
| # | Date (PKT) | Match | Kick-off (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri 12 Jun | MexicovsSouth Africa | 12:00 a.m. |
| 2 | Fri 12 Jun | South KoreavsCzechia | 7:00 a.m. |
| 3 | Sat 13 Jun | CanadavsBosnia & Herzegovina | 12:00 a.m. |
| 4 | Sat 13 Jun | USAvsParaguay | 6:00 a.m. |
| 5 | Sun 14 Jun | QatarvsSwitzerland | 12:00 a.m. |
| 6 | Sun 14 Jun | BrazilvsMorocco | 3:00 a.m. |
| 7 | Sun 14 Jun | HaitivsScotland | 6:00 a.m. |
| 8 | Sun 14 Jun | AustraliavsTürkiye | 9:00 a.m. |
| 9 | Sun 14 Jun | GermanyvsCuraçao | 10:00 p.m. |
| 10 | Mon 15 Jun | NetherlandsvsJapan | 1:00 a.m. |
| 11 | Mon 15 Jun | Ivory CoastvsEcuador | 4:00 a.m. |
| 12 | Mon 15 Jun | SwedenvsTunisia | 7:00 a.m. |
| 13 | Mon 15 Jun | SpainvsCape Verde | 9:00 p.m. |
| 14 | Tue 16 Jun | BelgiumvsEgypt | 12:00 a.m. |
| 15 | Tue 16 Jun | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 3:00 a.m. |
| 16 | Tue 16 Jun | IranvsNew Zealand | 6:00 a.m. |
| 17 | Wed 17 Jun | FrancevsSenegal | 12:00 a.m. |
| 18 | Wed 17 Jun | IraqvsNorway | 3:00 a.m. |
| 19 | Wed 17 Jun | ArgentinavsAlgeria | 6:00 a.m. |
| 20 | Wed 17 Jun | AustriavsJordan | 9:00 a.m. |
| 21 | Wed 17 Jun | PortugalvsDR Congo | 10:00 p.m. |
| 22 | Thu 18 Jun | EnglandvsCroatia | 1:00 a.m. |
| 23 | Thu 18 Jun | GhanavsPanama | 4:00 a.m. |
| 24 | Thu 18 Jun | UzbekistanvsColombia | 7:00 a.m. |
| 25 | Thu 18 Jun | CzechiavsSouth Africa | 9:00 p.m. |
| 26 | Fri 19 Jun | SwitzerlandvsBosnia & Herzegovina | 12:00 a.m. |
| 27 | Fri 19 Jun | CanadavsQatar | 3:00 a.m. |
| 28 | Fri 19 Jun | MexicovsSouth Korea | 6:00 a.m. |
| 29 | Sat 20 Jun | USAvsAustralia | 12:00 a.m. |
| 30 | Sat 20 Jun | ScotlandvsMorocco | 3:00 a.m. |
| 31 | Sat 20 Jun | BrazilvsHaiti | 5:30 a.m. |
| 32 | Sat 20 Jun | TürkiyevsParaguay | 9:00 a.m. |
| 33 | Sat 20 Jun | NetherlandsvsSweden | 10:00 p.m. |
| 34 | Sun 21 Jun | GermanyvsIvory Coast | 1:00 a.m. |
| 35 | Sun 21 Jun | EcuadorvsCuraçao | 5:00 a.m. |
| 36 | Sun 21 Jun | TunisiavsJapan | 9:00 a.m. |
| 37 | Sun 21 Jun | SpainvsSaudi Arabia | 9:00 p.m. |
| 38 | Mon 22 Jun | BelgiumvsIran | 12:00 a.m. |
| 39 | Mon 22 Jun | UruguayvsCape Verde | 3:00 a.m. |
| 40 | Mon 22 Jun | New ZealandvsEgypt | 6:00 a.m. |
| 41 | Mon 22 Jun | ArgentinavsAustria | 10:00 p.m. |
| 42 | Tue 23 Jun | FrancevsIraq | 2:00 a.m. |
| 43 | Tue 23 Jun | NorwayvsSenegal | 5:00 a.m. |
| 44 | Tue 23 Jun | JordanvsAlgeria | 8:00 a.m. |
| 45 | Tue 23 Jun | PortugalvsUzbekistan | 10:00 p.m. |
| 46 | Wed 24 Jun | EnglandvsGhana | 1:00 a.m. |
| 47 | Wed 24 Jun | PanamavsCroatia | 4:00 a.m. |
| 48 | Wed 24 Jun | ColombiavsDR Congo | 7:00 a.m. |
| 49 | Thu 25 Jun | SwitzerlandvsCanada | 12:00 a.m. |
| 50 | Thu 25 Jun | Bosnia & HerzegovinavsQatar | 12:00 a.m. |
| 51 | Thu 25 Jun | ScotlandvsBrazil | 3:00 a.m. |
| 52 | Thu 25 Jun | MoroccovsHaiti | 3:00 a.m. |
| 53 | Thu 25 Jun | CzechiavsMexico | 6:00 a.m. |
| 54 | Thu 25 Jun | South AfricavsSouth Korea | 6:00 a.m. |
| 55 | Fri 26 Jun | CuraçaovsIvory Coast | 1:00 a.m. |
| 56 | Fri 26 Jun | EcuadorvsGermany | 1:00 a.m. |
| 57 | Fri 26 Jun | JapanvsSweden | 4:00 a.m. |
| 58 | Fri 26 Jun | TunisiavsNetherlands | 4:00 a.m. |
| 59 | Fri 26 Jun | TürkiyevsUSA | 7:00 a.m. |
| 60 | Fri 26 Jun | ParaguayvsAustralia | 7:00 a.m. |
| 61 | Sat 27 Jun | NorwayvsFrance | 12:00 a.m. |
| 62 | Sat 27 Jun | SenegalvsIraq | 12:00 a.m. |
| 63 | Sat 27 Jun | Cape VerdevsSaudi Arabia | 5:00 a.m. |
| 64 | Sat 27 Jun | UruguayvsSpain | 5:00 a.m. |
| 65 | Sat 27 Jun | EgyptvsIran | 8:00 a.m. |
| 66 | Sat 27 Jun | New ZealandvsBelgium | 8:00 a.m. |
| 67 | Sun 28 Jun | PanamavsEngland | 2:00 a.m. |
| 68 | Sun 28 Jun | CroatiavsGhana | 2:00 a.m. |
| 69 | Sun 28 Jun | ColombiavsPortugal | 4:30 a.m. |
| 70 | Sun 28 Jun | DR CongovsUzbekistan | 4:30 a.m. |
| 71 | Sun 28 Jun | AlgeriavsAustria | 7:00 a.m. |
| 72 | Sun 28 Jun | JordanvsArgentina | 7:00 a.m. |
Biggest FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage matches
The group stage will feature several highly anticipated fixtures involving football powerhouses including:
Brazil
Argentina
France
Germany
England
Spain
Portugal
Netherlands
Belgium
Uruguay
Matches involving Lionel Messi's Argentina, Kylian Mbappe's France, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal and Brazil are expected to draw massive audiences worldwide, including in Pakistan.
How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 in Pakistan
Pakistani football fans will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 through official television broadcasters and digital streaming platforms. It is being broadcast on national television PTV Sports.
With football's biggest stars set to compete for the most prestigious trophy in the sport, Pakistani fans are preparing for another unforgettable World Cup filled with late-night excitement, dramatic moments and world-class football action.