FIFA has announced the match schedule rollout for next year’s World Cup, with a live broadcast set to occur 24 hours after Friday’s draw.
For the first time in World Cup history, the venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches will not be unveiled on the same day the groups are revealed. Instead, FIFA will strategically place matches in the most suitable locations based on the four time zones involved in the tournament, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The comprehensive schedule will be disclosed at 12 p.m. EST (5 p.m. GMT), with FIFA President Gianni Infantino taking the stage alongside FIFA legends to discuss the matches and provide commentary.
According to FIFA, “The match allocation process following the draw is designed to ensure optimal conditions for all teams and fans while allowing supporters worldwide to watch their teams play live across varying time zones.”
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The finalized match schedule will be published in March, following the FIFA and European playoffs, which will determine the last six teams to qualify.
The World Cup draw will occur on Friday at 12 p.m. EST in Washington, where 48 teams (including placeholders for those facing playoffs in March) will be sorted into four pots of 12 based on the latest FIFA World Rankings. Each group will feature one team from each pot.