Matches UAE Fans Will Be Watching

20 group-stage games that matter most for Arab and Gulf bettors. Three "must watch" marquee games highlighted in gold.

Must Watch
Sat 13 June
Late night UAE
6 PM ET kickoff
Brazil vs Morocco
USA MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey

The headline opener for Arab fans. Morocco beat Spain and Portugal in 2022 and now face the five-time champions at the tournament's biggest stadium.

Mon 15 June
11 PM UAE
3 PM ET kickoff
Belgium vs Egypt
USA Lumen Field, Seattle

Egypt's tournament opener at a friendly UAE viewing time. Mohamed Salah carries the line.

Tue 16 June
Early AM UAE
6 PM ET kickoff Mon 15
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay
USA Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Tough opener for the Green Falcons against a Uruguay side built on Valverde and Núñez.

Tue 16 June
11 PM UAE
3 PM ET kickoff
France vs Senegal
USA MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey

Tier-one heavyweight clash. Senegal is the second-best-priced African side after Morocco.

Wed 17 June
Early AM UAE
6 PM ET kickoff Tue 16
Iraq vs Norway
USA Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

Iraq's first World Cup match in 40 years. Haaland and Ødegaard against a roaring Iraqi crowd.

Wed 17 June
Early AM UAE
9 PM ET kickoff Tue 16
Argentina vs Algeria
USA Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Messi's likely final World Cup opener, against an Algeria team that hasn't reached this stage since 2014.

Sat 20 June
Early AM UAE
6 PM ET kickoff Fri 19
Scotland vs Morocco
USA Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

Morocco's likely path-to-knockout fixture. The Atlas Lions need a result here.

Sat 20 June
Dawn UAE
12 AM ET kickoff Fri 19
Tunisia vs Japan
MEX Estadio BBVA, Monterrey

Tunisia's opener against a Japan side that beat Germany and Spain in 2022.

Must Watch
Sun 21 June
8 PM UAE, prime time
12 PM ET kickoff
Spain vs Saudi Arabia
USA Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

The most UAE-friendly kickoff of the group stage. Saudi take on the tournament favourite.

Sun 21 June
11 PM UAE
3 PM ET kickoff
Belgium vs Iran
USA SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

De Bruyne, Lukaku and the Belgian core against Iran. Group G is wide open below Belgium.

Mon 22 June
Early AM UAE
9 PM ET kickoff Sun 21
New Zealand vs Egypt
CAN BC Place, Vancouver

Likely must-win for Egypt. Salah needs goals in this one.

Tue 23 June
Early AM UAE
5 PM ET kickoff Mon 22
France vs Iraq
USA Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Iraq's biggest game of the tournament. Mbappé against an entire region's hopes.

Tue 23 June
Dawn UAE
8 PM ET kickoff Mon 22
Norway vs Senegal
USA MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey

Group I decider candidate. Sadio Mané versus Erling Haaland.

Thu 25 June
Early AM UAE
6 PM ET kickoff Wed 24
Morocco vs Haiti
USA Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Morocco's likely qualification clincher. Goal-line markets get a lot of UAE attention.

Fri 26 June
Early AM UAE
7 PM ET kickoff Thu 25
Tunisia vs Netherlands
USA Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Tunisia's hardest game on paper. The Dutch normally control these matchups.

Fri 26 June
11 PM UAE
3 PM ET kickoff
Senegal vs Iraq
CAN BMO Field, Toronto

Group I final round. UAE-friendly kickoff and a likely third-place playoff scenario in the mix.

Sat 27 June
Dawn UAE
8 PM ET kickoff Fri 26
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia
USA NRG Stadium, Houston

Saudi's last group game. Cape Verde is the wildcard of this tournament.

Sat 27 June
Morning UAE
11 PM ET kickoff Fri 26
Egypt vs Iran
USA Lumen Field, Seattle

Group G's most politically charged fixture. Both teams could still need points.

Must Watch
Sun 28 June
Dawn UAE
10 PM ET kickoff Sat 27
Jordan vs Argentina
USA AT&T Stadium, Dallas

Jordan's World Cup debut against the reigning champions. The biggest occasion in Jordanian football history.

Sun 28 June
Dawn UAE
10 PM ET kickoff Sat 27
Algeria vs Austria
USA Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Group J finale for Algeria. A win likely sends them into the Round of 32.

All times converted to UAE Standard Time (GMT+4). UAE is 8 hours ahead of US Eastern Time, so an evening kickoff in New York lands as early-morning viewing in Dubai.