The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11 June 2026, and South African football fans have plenty to look forward to from the very first match. Bafana Bafana open the tournament against Mexico in a repeat of the famous 2010 World Cup opener, while the first week also features Brazil, Morocco, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Egypt, Argentina, Portugal, England and several other major teams.
Because the tournament is being hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, kick-off times vary quite a bit for South African viewers. Some matches land nicely in the evening, while others will require a very early alarm.
Below is a South African-friendly guide to the opening fixtures, with kick-off times converted to South African Standard Time (SAST).
Date in South Africa |
Kick-Off Time (SAST) |
Group |
Match |
Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thursday, 11 June 2026 |
21:00 |
Group A |
Mexico vs South Africa |
Mexico City, Mexico |
Friday, 12 June 2026 |
04:00 |
Group A |
South Korea vs Czech Republic |
Zapopan, Mexico |
Friday, 12 June 2026 |
21:00 |
Group B |
Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina |
Toronto, Canada |
Saturday, 13 June 2026 |
03:00 |
Group D |
USA vs Paraguay |
Los Angeles, USA |
Saturday, 13 June 2026 |
21:00 |
Group B |
Qatar vs Switzerland |
Santa Clara, USA |
Sunday, 14 June 2026 |
00:00 |
Group C |
Brazil vs Morocco |
New Jersey, USA |
Sunday, 14 June 2026 |
03:00 |
Group C |
Haiti vs Scotland |
Foxborough, USA |
Sunday, 14 June 2026 |
06:00 |
Group D |
Australia vs Turkey |
Vancouver, Canada |
Sunday, 14 June 2026 |
19:00 |
Group E |
Germany vs Curaçao |
Houston, USA |
Sunday, 14 June 2026 |
22:00 |
Group F |
Netherlands vs Japan |
Arlington, USA |
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 |
01:00 |
Group E |
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador |
Philadelphia, USA |
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 |
04:00 |
Group F |
Sweden vs Tunisia |
Guadalupe, Mexico |
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 |
18:00 |
Group H |
Spain vs Cape Verde |
Atlanta, USA |
Tuesday, 16 June 2026 |
21:00 |
Group G |
Belgium vs Egypt |
Seattle, USA |
Wednesday, 17 June 2026 |
00:00 |
Group H |
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay |
Miami, USA |
Wednesday, 17 June 2026 |
03:00 |
Group G |
Iran vs New Zealand |
Los Angeles, USA |
Wednesday, 17 June 2026 |
21:00 |
Group I |
France vs Senegal |
New Jersey, USA |
Thursday, 18 June 2026 |
00:00 |
Group I |
Iraq vs Norway |
Foxborough, USA |
Thursday, 18 June 2026 |
03:00 |
Group J |
Argentina vs Algeria |
Kansas City, USA |
Thursday, 18 June 2026 |
06:00 |
Group J |
Austria vs Jordan |
Santa Clara, USA |
Thursday, 18 June 2026 |
19:00 |
Group K |
Portugal vs DR Congo |
Houston, USA |
Thursday, 18 June 2026 |
22:00 |
Group L |
England vs Croatia |
Arlington, USA |
Where to watch the World Cup in South Africa
South African viewers should have a few options for watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
DStv and SuperSport: SuperSport is expected to show all 104 matches live across DStv packages and DStv Stream, making it the most complete option for fans who want access to every game.
SABC and SABC Plus: SABC is expected to carry selected free-to-air matches, including key fixtures and Bafana Bafana games. SABC Plus should also be useful for streaming selected games without a DStv subscription.
SportyTV: Some listings also include SportyTV as a streaming option in South Africa, so fans may have another digital route for selected or full tournament coverage.
Best fixtures for South African fans in the opening week
For local fans, the big one is obviously Mexico vs South Africa on Thursday, 11 June at 21:00 SAST. It is the opening match of the tournament, and it gives Bafana Bafana a massive stage against one of the host nations.
There are also some excellent neutral fixtures at reasonable South African times. Germany vs Curaçao kicks off at 19:00 SAST, Netherlands vs Japan is at 22:00 SAST, Spain vs Cape Verde is at 18:00 SAST, France vs Senegal is at 21:00 SAST, and Portugal vs DR Congo is at 19:00 SAST.
The late-night and early-morning matches will be tougher, but some could be worth staying up for. Brazil vs Morocco kicks off at midnight, while Argentina vs Algeria is a 03:00 SAST start.
Which opening fixture are you most excited for: Bafana vs Mexico, Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Senegal, or England vs Croatia?
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