FIFA World Cup kick-off times announced for England and Scotland as Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales learn potential fates
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Published 06/12/2025 at 20:59 GMT
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England have been handed favourable kick-off times at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Scotland did not get so lucky, with each of their games finishing after midnight and one of them starting at 02:00 UK time. Meanwhile, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland also discovered their potential schedules if they can qualify through the UEFA play-offs.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
England have discovered their 2026 FIFA World Cup group games will all kick-off at 21:00 or 22:00 UK time, but Scotland fans have been handed a tougher deal.
Steve Clarke’s side will play their opener and first match at the tournament for 28 years at 02:00 UK time, with their other two games kicking off at 23:00.
Drawn against Croatia, Ghana and Panama on Friday, a group that TNT Sports expert Peter Crouch said England "should be able to get through", UK-based fans of Thomas Tuchel's side have now avoided having to watch The Three Lions after midnight.
England will face Croatia in Dallas for their opening game at 21:00 BST on June 17, before flying to the east coast and staying there for the rest of the group stage where they will take on Ghana in Boston at the same time on June 23, then Panama at 22:00 BST in New York, New Jersey four days later.
If they win their group, England could stay in the eastern region almost all the way to the final, only leaving to play their last 16 game in Mexico City.
England and Croatia will be two of the last teams to kick off their World Cup campaigns, as only Ghana, Panama, Uzbekistan and Colombia will start later.
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Scotland facing late nights
Members of The Tartan Army who do not travel to North America are facing late nights watching Steve Clarke’s side.
Drawn against Brazil and Morocco (who they faced in their last FIFA World Cup appearance in 1998) plus Haiti, the island nation appearing at the tournament for the first time in over 50 years, Scotland will be playing in the eastern region like England.
They will take on Haiti in Boston on June 14 at 02:00 UK time, then stay in Massachusetts to play Morocco at 23:00 on June 19.
Scotland round out their group stage with a tough assignment against Brazil in Miami, also at 23:00 BST five days later.
Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland learn potential FIFA World Cup schedules
Northern Ireland and Wales are battling it out for a place in Group B with hosts Canada, and better kick-off times.
Facing Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively in their play-off bracket with the winners of those ties facing off to reach the finals, whoever emerges victorious will play all their games at 20:00 UK time, taking on Canada, Switzerland and Qatar in Toronto, Los Angeles and Seattle.
Finally, if Republic of Ireland can navigate their play-off bracket against Republic of Ireland and either North Macedonia or the Denmark, then they will play two out of their three games in Mexico in the same group as the host nation.
Like Scotland, they would play their first game at the tournament in a generation at an unfavourable hour - 03:00 Irish and UK time on June 12, against South Korea in Zapopan, western Mexico.
The Boys in Green would then travel to Atlanta and take on South Africa at 17:00 on June 18, before finishing up against Mexico in the capital south of the US border at 02:00 on June 25.
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