World Cup 2026 kicks off with Mexico vs South Africa and South Korea vs Czechia

'Fox & Friends' co-host Brian Kilmeade speaks with former U.S. Men National Team player Alecko Eskandarian about the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Eskandarian shares his insights on the U.S. team's potential, emphasizing the importance of winning group matches against Paraguay and Australia. He also highlights MLS initiatives, including fully funded academies, to foster young talent and inspire new fans across the country.

The World Cup is one of the best tournaments sports has to offer.

The global event kicks off Thursday with Mexico taking on South Africa followed by the Korea Republic taking on Czechia. The two matches will headline weeks of group-play matches featuring 48 nations for the first time in the tournament’s history.

The matches will take place in the U.S., Mexico and Canada for the next few weeks until a winner is determined at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19.

Soccer fans hoping to watch their favorite squads and players can tune in to watch the World Cup on FOX, FS1, Fox One and Tubi.

HOW DO TEAMS ADVANCE IN THE 2026 WORLD CUP? TIEBREAKER RULES AND ROUND OF 32 FORMAT EXPLAINED

Read below for the full schedule and match results.

Mexico's Gilberto Mora controls the ball during a FIFA U-20 World Cup quarter-final match against Argentina at National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, on Oct. 11, 2025. (Esteban Felix/AP)

3 p.m.: Mexico vs. South Africa

10 p.m.: South Korea vs. Czechia

3 p.m. ET: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

9 p.m. ET: USA vs. Paraguay

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

3 p.m. ET: Qatar vs. Switzerland

6 p.m. ET: Brazil vs. Morocco

10 p.m. ET: Haiti vs. Scotland

12 a.m. ET: Australia vs. Türkiye

1 p.m. ET: Germany vs. Curaçao

4 p.m. ET: Netherlands vs. Japan

7 p.m.