Last Updated on 19/03/2026 by Andy Clark
England’s World Cup 2026 fixtures have been confirmed — and for fans watching from home in the UK, the news is good. All three of England’s group stage games kick off at 9pm or 10pm BST, meaning no setting the alarm for the early hours.
With the group draw placing Thomas Tuchel’s side against Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, here are every confirmed England kick-off time in UK time, along with England’s full path to the final — whether they win the group, finish second, or sneak through as one of the best third-placed teams.
For free bets to use on England’s World Cup games, see our World Cup free bets page. For match tips and predictions, see our World Cup tips page.
England’s World Cup 2026 Group Stage Fixtures — UK Kick-Off Times
England play all three of their group stage matches in the United States.
| Date | Day | Fixture | UK Time (BST) | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17th June 2026 | Wednesday | England vs Croatia | 9:00pm | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Dallas, Texas |
| 23rd June 2026 | Tuesday | England vs Ghana | 9:00pm | Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Boston, Massachusetts |
| 27th June 2026 | Saturday | Panama vs England | 10:00pm | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
All times are BST (British Summer Time). The UK is currently 5 hours ahead of Eastern Time and 6 hours ahead of Central Time during the summer, so a 4pm local kick-off in Dallas becomes 9pm in the UK.
England vs Croatia — Wednesday 17th June 2026, 9:00pm BST
England open their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, one of the most iconic sports venues in the United States. It holds just under 100,000 fans in its standard configuration and is fully air-conditioned, which matters given June temperatures in Texas.
This is a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, which Croatia won 2-1 after extra time. It is also the team that knocked England out of their qualifying attempts for Euro 2008, so there is genuine historical edge to this fixture. Croatia are still captained by Luka Modrić — now 40 years old but still involved — and have a disciplined, experienced squad. England are heavy favourites but will need to be at their best.
UK time: 9:00pm BST — a comfortable prime-time kick-off, perfect for a pint and a proper watch.
On TV: ITV
England vs Ghana — Tuesday 23rd June 2026, 9:00pm BST
England’s second group game takes them to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts — the home of the New England Patriots. Ghana have qualified for four of the last five World Cups and have Premier League quality throughout their squad, with Tottenham’s Mohammed Kudus and Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo among their key players. This is not a walkover.
England and Ghana have not met at a World Cup before, though their one meeting — a 2011 friendly — ended 1-1. A win here would likely secure England’s progress to the Round of 32 before their final group game.
UK time: 9:00pm BST — again, prime time. Tuesday night football at its biggest.
On TV: BBC
Panama vs England — Saturday 27th June 2026, 10:00pm BST
England’s final group game is back at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — the same venue as the World Cup final on 19th July. Panama are England’s weakest opponents in the group. The two sides met at the 2018 World Cup in a group game England won 6-1, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick. If England have already qualified, rotation is likely. If they haven’t, expect a full-strength side.
UK time: 10:00pm BST — an hour later than the first two games but still a manageable Saturday night kick-off.
On TV: ITV
If you want to use this graphic, please add a link to thatsagoal.com as your reference.
Will England Qualify from Group L?
England are strong favourites to qualify from Group L and are expected to finish in the top two. The group stage table at the end of 27th June determines which of the three paths below England take into the knockout rounds.
All three of the following scenarios assume England qualify — either automatically as top two, or as one of the eight best third-placed teams.
Path 1: England WIN Group L
If England top Group L, their path to the final is the most straightforward possible — as group winners, they are seeded and cannot face Spain, France or Argentina until at least the semi-finals.
Round of 32 — Wednesday 1st July 2026, Midnight BST (00:00 — Thursday 2nd July)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Opponents: Best third-placed team from Groups E, H, I, J or K
The winner of England’s group plays a third-placed team — not a group runner-up. This is the better draw in terms of opponents, but the timing is a late one. Kick-off in Atlanta is 7pm local time on the evening of 1st July, which means midnight BST — so technically the early hours of Thursday 2nd July in the UK.
UK time: Midnight BST (00:00 — early hours of Thursday 2nd July) — a late-night watch for UK fans, but England as group winners face a third-placed team rather than a runner-up.
Round of 16 — Saturday 5th July 2026, 11:00pm BST
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Opponents: Winner of the other Round of 32 match in their bracket half
If England win Group L, their Round of 16 takes them to the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — one of the most famous football stadiums in the world, the venue of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. A Saturday night, 11pm BST kick-off.
UK time: 11:00pm BST — a late Saturday night in Mexico City.
Quarter-Final — Saturday 11th July 2026, 8:00pm BST
Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida Opponents: TBC from bracket
England’s quarter-final as group winners would be in Miami on a Saturday evening — 8pm BST, a very watchable UK time. Hard Rock Stadium is the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
UK time: 8:00pm BST — Saturday evening, perfect for a pub showing.
Semi-Final — Wednesday 15th July 2026, 8:00pm BST
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia Opponents: TBC
England’s semi-final as group winners would be in Atlanta — the same stadium they played their Round of 32 in — on the Wednesday evening. 8pm BST. This is where the draw opens up fully and potential opponents include Spain, France or Argentina.
UK time: 8:00pm BST
World Cup Final — Sunday 19th July 2026, 8:00pm BST
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Opponents: TBC
The same stadium England play Panama in on 27th June becomes the stage for the World Cup final on 19th July. A Sunday evening 8pm BST kick-off. Sixty years after 1966.
UK time: 8:00pm BST
England’s Path to the Final — If They WIN Group L — Summary
| Round | Date | Day | UK Time (BST) | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group — England vs Croatia | 17th June | Wednesday | 9:00pm | AT&T Stadium | Dallas, Texas |
| Group — England vs Ghana | 23rd June | Tuesday | 9:00pm | Gillette Stadium | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Group — Panama vs England | 27th June | Saturday | 10:00pm | MetLife Stadium | New Jersey |
| Round of 32 | 1st July (midnight) | Wednesday night / Thu 2nd | 00:00 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Round of 16 | 5th July | Saturday | 11:00pm | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico |
| Quarter-Final | 11th July | Saturday | 8:00pm | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami, Florida |
| Semi-Final | 15th July | Wednesday | 8:00pm | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Georgia |
| World Cup Final | 19th July | Sunday | 8:00pm | MetLife Stadium | New Jersey |
Path 2: England Finish 2nd in Group L
If England finish second in Group L, the picture changes significantly. As runners-up they face Group K runners-up in the Round of 32 — the most likely opponent being Portugal or Colombia, depending on how Group K plays out. The timing is also considerably worse, with two of the five knockout games kicking off in the early hours of the morning UK time.
Round of 32 — Wednesday 2nd July 2026, 1:00am BST (Thursday 3rd July)
Venue: BMO Field, Toronto, Canada Opponents: Group K runners-up — likely Portugal or Colombia
This is the worst scheduling outcome for England. As Group L runners-up, England play at 1am BST — the early hours of Thursday 3rd July. It is 8pm local time in Toronto, a perfectly reasonable evening kick-off in Canada, but for anyone watching in the UK it means staying up through the night.
On top of the time, the opponents are tougher — a group runner-up rather than a third-placed side, most likely Portugal or Colombia from Group K.
UK time: 1:00am BST (Thursday 3rd July) — set your alarm.
Round of 16 — Sunday 6th July 2026, 10:00pm BST
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Dallas, Texas Opponents: TBC from bracket
England’s Round of 16 as Group L runners-up takes them to AT&T Stadium in Dallas — the same venue as their opening group game against Croatia. A Sunday night 10pm BST kick-off.
UK time: 10:00pm BST
Quarter-Final — Friday 10th July 2026, 8:00pm BST
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Los Angeles, California Opponents: TBC from bracket
A Friday evening quarter-final in Los Angeles. 8pm BST — watchable for UK fans without it being an endurance event.
UK time: 8:00pm BST
Semi-Final — Monday 14th July 2026, 1:00am BST (Tuesday 15th July)
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Dallas, Texas Opponents: TBC
The most brutal timing on the entire second-placed path. England’s semi-final as Group L runners-up is in Dallas at 1am BST — technically the early hours of Tuesday 15th July in the UK. It is 7pm local time in Texas, a comfortable evening kick-off stateside, but another sleepless night for anyone following from home.
UK time: 1:00am BST (Tuesday 15th July) — the biggest ask of any England game on the runners-up path.
World Cup Final — Sunday 19th July 2026, 8:00pm BST
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Same final, same time, same venue — regardless of which path England take.
UK time: 8:00pm BST
England’s Path to the Final — If They Finish 2nd in Group L — Summary
| Round | Date | Day | UK Time (BST) | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group — England vs Croatia | 17th June | Wednesday | 9:00pm | AT&T Stadium | Dallas, Texas |
| Group — England vs Ghana | 23rd June | Tuesday | 9:00pm | Gillette Stadium | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Group — Panama vs England | 27th June | Saturday | 10:00pm | MetLife Stadium | New Jersey |
| Round of 32 | 2nd July (1am 3rd) | Wednesday night / Thu 3rd | 1:00am | BMO Field | Toronto, Canada |
| Round of 16 | 6th July | Sunday | 10:00pm | AT&T Stadium | Dallas, Texas |
| Quarter-Final | 10th July | Friday | 8:00pm | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles, California |
| Semi-Final | 14th July (1am 15th) | Monday night / Tue 15th | 1:00am | AT&T Stadium | Dallas, Texas |
| World Cup Final | 19th July | Sunday | 8:00pm | MetLife Stadium | New Jersey |
Path 3: England Finish 3rd in Group L
For the first time at a World Cup, finishing third is not necessarily the end. The eight best third-placed teams from across the 12 groups advance to the Round of 32. Whether England would be among those eight depends on their points, goal difference and goals scored relative to the other third-placed sides.
If England finish third with, say, four points (a win and a draw), they would almost certainly qualify. Three points (one win) may be enough depending on other results. Fewer than that and the chances reduce significantly.
Which Round of 32 match a third-placed Group L team plays in is not pre-determined — it depends on which eight third-placed teams qualify, and FIFA allocates them to specific brackets based on which groups they came from. This is confirmed only after the group stage ends on 27th June.
What is known: a third-placed team always plays against a group winner — never another runner-up — in the Round of 32. That is a harder draw than the runner-up path (which faces another runner-up). For England to finish third, something would have gone badly wrong in the group — and the reward for finishing third is a tougher first knockout match.
UK third-place Round of 32 kick-off times: The Round of 32 runs from 28th June to 3rd July with games at various times. England’s specific match would only be confirmed after the group stage concludes.
Comparing the Three Paths — Key Differences at a Glance
| If England WIN Group L | If England Finish 2nd | If England Finish 3rd | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R32 date | 1st July (midnight) | 2nd July (1am 3rd) | TBC — confirmed 27th June |
| R32 UK time | 00:00 | 1:00am | TBC |
| R32 venue | Atlanta | Toronto | TBC |
| R32 opponents | 3rd-placed team | Group K runners-up | Group winner (TBC) |
| R16 | Sat 5th July, 11pm, Mexico City | Sun 6th July, 10pm, Dallas | TBC |
| QF | Sat 11th July, 8pm, Miami | Fri 10th July, 8pm, Los Angeles | TBC |
| SF | Wed 15th July, 8pm, Atlanta | Mon 14th July, 1am, Dallas | TBC |
| Final | Sunday 19th July, 8pm | Sunday 19th July, 8pm | Sunday 19th July, 8pm |
The clearest difference is the Round of 32. Winning the group gives England a 5pm Wednesday afternoon kick-off in Atlanta against a third-placed team — by far the better draw. Finishing second means a midnight Thursday fixture in Toronto against a group runner-up, which is likely to be a much tougher match at a much less sociable UK time.
What UK Time Does England’s World Cup Final Start?
The 2026 World Cup final takes place on Sunday 19th July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It kicks off at 3pm local time (EDT), which is 8pm BST in the UK.
An 8pm Sunday evening kick-off is about as good as it gets for a match played on the other side of the Atlantic. If England are in it, Sunday 19th July could be one of the most-watched sporting events in British television history.
What TV Channel Are England’s World Cup Games On?
England’s matches at the 2026 World Cup are split between the BBC and ITV. All games will be shown free-to-air in the UK:
| Fixture | UK TV Channel |
|---|---|
| England vs Croatia (17th June) | ITV |
| England vs Ghana (23rd June) | BBC |
| Panama vs England (27th June) | ITV |
| Round of 32 | BBC |
| Round of 16 | BBC |
| Quarter-Final | BBC |
| Semi-Final | BBC |
| World Cup Final | BBC and ITV (both) |
England World Cup 2026 Kick-Off Times — FAQs
What time do England play at the World Cup 2026 in UK time?
England’s three group stage games kick off at 9pm BST (vs Croatia on 17th June and vs Ghana on 23rd June) and 10pm BST (vs Panama on 27th June). All three games are prime-time viewing for UK fans.
What day do England play Croatia at the 2026 World Cup?
England vs Croatia is on Wednesday 17th June 2026, kicking off at 9pm BST at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
What day do England play Ghana at the 2026 World Cup?
England vs Ghana is on Tuesday 23rd June 2026, kicking off at 9pm BST at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
What day do England play Panama at the 2026 World Cup?
Panama vs England is on Saturday 27th June 2026, kicking off at 10pm BST at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
What time is England’s Round of 32 in UK time?
If England win Group L, their Round of 32 game is on Wednesday 1st July at midnight BST (technically the early hours of Thursday 2nd July) in Atlanta. If England finish second, it is Wednesday 2nd July at 1am BST (early hours of Thursday 3rd July) in Toronto. Either way, it’s a late one for UK fans.
What time is England’s quarter-final at the World Cup 2026?
If England win Group L, the quarter-final would be on Saturday 11th July at 8pm BST in Miami. If England finish second, it would be on Friday 10th July at 8pm BST in Los Angeles.
What time is England’s World Cup 2026 semi-final in the UK?
If England top the group, the semi-final is on Wednesday 15th July at 8pm BST in Atlanta. If they finish second, it is Monday 14th July at 1am BST (early hours of Tuesday 15th July) in Dallas — another brutal overnight kick-off on the runners-up path.
What time is the World Cup 2026 final in UK time?
The 2026 World Cup final is on Sunday 19th July 2026 at 8pm BST at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It is the same venue as England’s final group game against Panama.
Do England have any late-night kick-offs at the 2026 World Cup?
The group stage games are all 9pm or 10pm BST — manageable for most. The worst potential kick-off time is the Round of 32 for a second-placed Group L team, which is midnight BST on Thursday 2nd July in Toronto.
What is the earliest England could be knocked out of the 2026 World Cup?
If England fail to qualify from Group L — either finishing third without enough points to be among the best third-placed sides, or finishing fourth — they would be eliminated after their final group game on Saturday 27th June.
More World Cup 2026 Content
- World Cup 2026 Betting Hub — Odds, Tips & Predictions
- World Cup 2026 Tips & Match Previews
- World Cup 2026 Free Bets & Offers
- England World Cup 2026 Betting Tips & Odds
- Football Accumulator Tips
- Bet Builder Tips
- Free Bets
All kick-off times are in BST (British Summer Time). Times correct at time of writing and subject to change — always check with the FA or FIFA for the latest confirmed schedule. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers. The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest weeks on the sporting calendar, and his expertise in betting promotions and marketing means you always get the best offers.