Late-Night Kickoffs and Heat Waves: Will World Cup 2026 Begin After Midnight?
2 octobre 2025
FIFA is adjusting the timetable for the World Cup 2026, which will be staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, by leaning toward late-night kickoffs that align with time zones in the Middle East and other regions. The aim is to beat the heat that troubled this year’s Club World Cup, won by Chelsea.
Earlier plans had matches starting at 19:00, 22:00, 01:00, and 04:00 local times, mirroring the pattern seen in the Club World Cup.
However, 19:00 and 22:00 starts would put some games at noon on the East Coast, and possibly even hotter conditions on the West Coast, creating heat-related challenges that organizers want to avoid.
Late-Night Kickoffs to Beat the Heat
Louis Enrique, the coach of Paris Saint-Germain, complained about having to play in nearly 40°C heat during the Club World Cup opener against Atlético Madrid in Los Angeles, which began at 12:00 local time.
Enzo Fernández of Chelsea also reported dizziness during play, underscoring how humidity and heat can affect players mid-match.
At a Leaders Conference in Twickenham, Victor Montagliani, president of CONCACAF and FIFA vice president, emphasized that kickoff times are a recurring issue in the region because summers are incredibly hot in Canada and the United States.
Montagliani said there are ongoing discussions with European and global media about what schedule is best and which stadiums can host 3:00 p.m. matches. Everything is on the table while the calendar is under review.
He also noted that, once the draw is released, the organizers will do their best to consider these timing factors. Will every match be perfectly timed for broadcast? No one can guarantee that, but the aim is to optimize conditions wherever possible.
Montagliani also declined to comment on Donald Trump’s recent threat to relocate some matches away from cities he labeled “unsafe.” He clarified that the decision does not rest with Trump, because FIFA alone holds the authority to move matches if needed.
“If I had to respond to every political statement, I wouldn’t have time to work,” he said, adding that the focus remains on 16 stadiums as the core framework for the tournament’s logistics.
“This is a FIFA tournament. They make the decisions. Respect to political leaders, but football is bigger than all of them.”
Who’s In for 2026? A Snapshot
As of this writing, 18 teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, whether as hosts or through the regional qualifiers.
Mexico, Canada, and the United States have qualified automatically as hosts. In Asia, six teams have qualified—Japan, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and South Korea—with two more expected to join later this month.
Morocco and Tunisia represent Africa, while South America features Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, and Paraguay. New Zealand has qualified from Oceania, and no European side has sealed a berth yet.
The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026 and runs for about a month, with the final on July 19, 2026. After Qatar 2022, which was held in winter, 2026 returns to summer as usual, and the format will feature 48 teams from start to finish. The qualifiers are expected to wrap up by March next year.
And yes, there will be plenty of chatter about match times, but at the end of the day, the whistle blows and the ball starts rolling—whether at midnight or noon, the world will still be watching.
Punchline 1: If the games are at midnight, the crowd may need a snooze button on their popcorn instead of a halftime snack.
Punchline 2: They say football is universal; apparently, so is the sauna with a side of stadium air-conditioning debates.
