The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States across 16 cities. All 104 matches on this page are converted to Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3), the offset Greece uses during the tournament window.

Match-day rhythms place most fixtures in the late-evening and overnight Greek window. Matches in Mexico City and on the US Eastern Time coast (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami) and in Toronto typically kick off between 19:00 and 06:00 EEST. US Central Time hosts (Dallas, Houston, Kansas City) push starts to 20:00 to 07:00 EEST. US Pacific Time hosts (Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver) put marquee evening matches as late as 22:00 to 09:00 EEST.

Greece did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, missing out at the UEFA qualifying stage. Despite the absence of a Greek team, football audiences in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and the large Greek diaspora in the United States, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom follow the tournament closely through ERT and Nova Sports. Greece’s most successful World Cup campaign was Brazil 2014, where the team reached the Round of 16 (eliminated by Costa Rica on penalties), only the second knockout-round appearance for Greek football after Euro 2004 glory.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs June 11 to July 19, 2026. All 104 matches converted to Hellás / Ελλάδα local time (EEST, UTC+03:00). Opening match is Mexico vs South Africa on Thu Jun 11 at 10:00 PM EEST. Final is Sun Jul 19 at 10:00 PM EEST.

Frequently asked questions

Is Greece playing in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

No. Greece did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Greek men's national team has reached three World Cups (1994, 2010, 2014). The 2014 tournament was Greece's most successful World Cup, reaching the Round of 16 before losing to Costa Rica on penalties. Greek fans typically follow other UEFA teams during the tournament.

What time will World Cup 2026 matches be on in Greece?

Most matches will air between 19:00 EEST and 09:00 EEST. Mexico City and US Eastern Time matches air between 19:00 and 06:00 EEST. US Pacific Time matches air from 22:00 to 09:00 EEST. The opening match (Mexico vs South Africa) kicks off at 22:00 EEST on Thursday, June 11. The Final is 22:00 EEST on Sunday, July 19.

Where can I watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Greece?

Broadcast rights for Greece during major FIFA tournaments have historically been held by ERT (state broadcaster, free-to-air for marquee matches) and Nova Sports / Cosmote TV (cable/streaming). Confirmation of the 2026 broadcaster mix depends on FIFA rights cycles. The Hellenic Football Federation (HFF) typically announces official viewing details closer to the tournament.

Are kick-off times the same in Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania?

Yes. Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Finland all observe Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3) during the tournament window. All kick-off times on this page apply without conversion to Nicosia, Sofia, Bucharest, Chișinău, Kyiv, and Helsinki. Turkey is also UTC+3 year-round (TRT, no DST).