World Cup starts today. See schedule, how to watch, stream in Alabama

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday, June 11, with matches airing daily across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

For viewers in Alabama, figuring out when games start and how to watch can be confusing, since most schedules are listed in Eastern Time.

Here’s how to watch the World Cup, including TV channels, streaming options and key match times converted to Central Time.

How to watch the World Cup opening ceremonies in Alabama​

Mexico kicks off the tournament June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with a celebration of Mexican culture before its opener against South Africa. The United States and Canada will host their ceremonies on June 12, ahead of their first group-stage matches, featuring performances by major music stars and showcases of each country’s culture.

All ceremonies are scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kickoff. For viewers in Alabama, the opening ceremonies will begin at:

Mexico’s 2026 World Cup opening ceremony

• Date: Thursday, June 11
• Time: 12:30 p.m. CST
• TV: Fox, Telemundo
• Stream: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock (Spanish)

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United States 2026 World Cup opening ceremony

• Date: Friday, June 12
• Time: 8:30 p.m. CST
• TV: Fox, Telemundo
• Stream: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock (Spanish)

Canada’s 2026 World Cup opening ceremony

• Date: Friday, June 12
• Time: 12:30 p.m. CST
• TV: Fox, Telemundo
• Stream: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock (Spanish)

How to watch the World Cup in Alabama​

The World Cup will air across several TV networks and streaming platforms in the United States.

TV channels

• Fox
• FS1
• Telemundo and Universo

Streaming options

The World Cup can be streamed directly on Fox ONE for English speakers and Peacock for Spanish speakers. Live TV streaming services such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo will air the 2026 World Cup.

What time World Cup games come on in Alabama​

Most World Cup schedules are listed in Eastern Time. Alabama is in the Central Time Zone, so viewers should subtract one hour.

For example:

• 3 p.m. ET= 2 p.m. CT
• 7 p.m. ET= 6 p.m. CT
• 9 p.m. ET= 8 p.m. CT

Matches will be played throughout the afternoon and evening.

World Cup opening match schedule (Central Time)​

Here are some of the first matches of the tournament (times listed in Central Time):

• June 11: Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A), 2 p.m. CT (Fox)
• June 11: South Korea vs. Czechia (Group A), 9 p.m. CT (FS1)
• June 12: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B), 2 p.m. CT (Fox)
• June 12: USA vs. Paraguay (Group D), 8 p.m. CT (Fox)

Fans can expect multiple games each day during the group stage.

When does Team USA play in the World Cup?​

Team USA is expected to draw some of the tournament's largest audiences.

Here’s when to watch (Central Time):

• June 12: USA vs. Paraguay, 8 p.m. CT
• June 19: USA vs. Australia, 2 p.m. CT
• June 25: USA vs. Turkey, 9 p.m. CT

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What to expect​

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches. The tournament begins with a group stage featuring 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to the 32-team knockout stage. From there, teams must win through the round of 32, the round of 16, the quarterfinals and the semifinals to reach the World Cup final.

The World Cup Final is scheduled for July 19 at 2 p.m. CT.

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What cities are hosting World Cup games in 2026?​

FIFA World Cup games will take place in 16 cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada:

United States:

• Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Boston: Gillette Stadium
• Dallas: AT&T Stadium
• Houston: NRG Stadium
• Kansas City: Arrowhead Stadium
• Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium
• Miami: Hard Rock Stadium
• New York/New Jersey: MetLife Stadium
• Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field
• San Francisco: Levi’s Stadium
• Seattle: Lumen Field

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Mexico:

• Guadalajara: Estadio Akron
• Mexico City: Estadio Azteca
• Monterrey: Estadio BBVA

Canada:

• Toronto: BMO Field
• Vancouver: BC Place

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What time World Cup games are on in Alabama. How to watch World Cup in AL

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