2026 World Cup Kicks Off June 28: Round of 32 Schedule and How to Watch

2026 FIFA World Cup Overview

According to Главком: The Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin on June 28, 2026, with South Africa taking on Canada in the opening match of this stage. This knockout round will run through July 4, concluding with a late-night clash between Colombia and Ghana. The tournament itself spans from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks the first time the World Cup will be co-hosted by three countries, a historic shift aimed at broadening the event's reach.

In Ukraine, exclusive broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup are held by the streaming service Megogo. To watch matches on this platform, a paid subscription that includes sports content is required, such as the Sport or Megopack packages. However, some matches will be available for free on the Megogo Sport TV channel, which can be accessed via digital terrestrial T2 and cable networks. Megogo Sport will air one selected match per game day at no cost to viewers.

Round of 32 Match Schedule

The full schedule for the Round of 32 is as follows:

• June 28 at 10:00 PM - South Africa vs. Canada
• June 29 at 8:00 PM - Brazil vs. Japan
• June 29 at 11:30 PM - Germany vs. Paraguay
• June 30 at 4:00 AM - Netherlands vs. Morocco
• June 30 at 8:00 PM - Ivory Coast vs. Norway
• July 1 at 12:00 AM - France vs. Sweden
• July 1 at 4:00 AM - Mexico vs. Ecuador
• July 1 at 7:00 PM - England vs. DR Congo
• July 1 at 11:00 PM - Belgium vs. Senegal
• July 2 at 3:00 AM - United States vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
• July 2 at 10:00 PM - Spain vs. Austria
• July 3 at 2:00 AM - Portugal vs. Croatia
• July 3 at 6:00 AM - Switzerland vs. Algeria
• July 3 at 9:00 PM - Australia vs. Egypt
• July 4 at 1:00 AM - Argentina vs. Cape Verde
• July 4 at 4:30 AM - Colombia vs. Ghana

Notably, previous World Cups have seen remarkable records set. France manager Didier Deschamps holds the record for most wins in World Cup history, with 17 victories. Meanwhile, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in six different World Cups, spanning from 2006 to 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a landmark event for sports fans, as it will be staged across three countries, a move designed to boost global engagement with the competition.

Given the growing popularity of football in Ukraine, access to matches via Megogo and other platforms will bring world-class action to local audiences. This could also help fuel further development of the sport in the region.

As the excitement builds for the upcoming matches, fans are also buzzing about the innovative ways to enjoy the tournament, including a viral smartphone flask trick. To learn more about this creative fan accessory and how Megogo has secured exclusive broadcast rights in Ukraine, be sure to check out our detailed coverage.