2026 World Cup kicks off across four time zones
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- Mexico hosts South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Estadio Azteca on Thursday.
- Eastern Time Zone (UTC‑4) is one of four time zones used for the tournament, alongside Central (UTC‑5), Central Standard Time (UTC‑6) and Pacific (UTC‑7).
- South Africa's opening match against Mexico kicks off at 3 p.m. Eastern Time, which translates to 2 p.m. Central, 1 p.m. Central Standard Time (Mexico), and 12 p.m. Pacific.
- United States teams have a base camp in Irvine, California, to reduce travel and schedule adjustments.
- Canada will play its group‑stage matches in two zones, starting in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina before moving to Vancouver.
Why it matters: Broadcasters gain expanded prime‑time windows across three nations, increasing ad inventory, while teams face tighter travel logistics and schedule adjustments to accommodate four time zones.
