Mexico vs South Africa
Thursday, June 11, 2026
🏟️ Estadio Azteca — Mexico City, Mexico
Kickoff times around the world
The Mexico vs South Africa match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The game will be played at Estadio Azteca, in Mexico City.
Official kickoff is at 3:00 PM (venue local time) — equivalent to 16:00 in Brasília time.
About the venue
Estadio Azteca is located in Mexico City, Mexico, and is one of the 16 official host venues of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first edition with 48 national teams and three host countries (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The stadium sits in the America/Mexico_City time zone (UTC-6 during the tournament), which directly shapes when the match airs for viewers around the world. For reference, New York is 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles and 1 hour behind Brasília during North American summer time, so the broadcast window shifts significantly depending on where you watch. The surrounding area offers strong transit links, hotel capacity, and fan zones prepared to welcome supporters from every continent.
Match context
Mexico and South Africa meet in the Group Stage of Group A at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a fixture that carries real weight in the race for a spot in the next round. Under the new 48-team format, the top two finishers from each group — plus the eight best third-placed teams — advance to the Round of 32, which makes every result decisive from the very first matchday. That puts pressure on both Mexico and South Africa to take points and keep their qualification hopes alive. Time zones matter too: depending on the country you watch from, kickoff can land in prime time, over lunch, or in the middle of the night — so checking the local time in advance is the difference between catching the opening whistle or missing it.
Match details
- Stage
- Group Stage — Group A
- Date
- Thursday, June 11, 2026
- Kickoff (ET)
- 3:00 PM
- Local venue time
- 3:00 PM (UTC-6)
- Time in Brasília
- 16:00
How to convert the time
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June–July), daylight saving time is active across the United States and Canada, while Mexico observes standard time year-round. To convert from venue ET (Eastern Time) to other zones, use: Brasília = ET + 1h, Lisbon = ET + 5h, London = ET + 5h, Paris = ET + 6h. So a 3:00 PM ET kickoff is 16:00 in Brasília.
Venue time zone
- Stadium
- Estadio Azteca
- Time zone (IANA)
- America/Mexico_City
- UTC offset (during Cup)
- UTC-6
- Local kickoff
- 3:00 PM
Viewing tip
If you are watching from Brazil, set your alarm for 16:00 Brasília time — remember that Brazil no longer observes daylight saving time, so the country stays at UTC-3 for the entire World Cup. The gap to New York (EDT) is just 1 hour during North American summer time, but stretches to 4 hours from Los Angeles (PDT). Double-check the local time ahead of kickoff and get comfortable: 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage matches typically start right on the FIFA-scheduled time.
Frequently asked questions
What time is Mexico vs South Africa in Brasília?
Kickoff is at 16:00 Brasília time (BRT, UTC-3). Because Brazil no longer observes daylight saving time, the offset stays the same through June and July, while host cities across North America are on summer time (EDT, CDT, MDT, or PDT). That keeps the gap between Brasília and New York at just 1 hour during the World Cup.
Where is the Mexico vs South Africa match played?
The match takes place in Mexico City, Mexico, at Estadio Azteca — one of the 16 official venues of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The city sits in the America/Mexico_City time zone (UTC-6 during the tournament) and will host additional matches throughout the competition. FIFA selected the stadium for its capacity, infrastructure, and strategic location.
What time zone is Mexico City in during the World Cup?
During the 2026 FIFA World Cup (June–July), Mexico City uses the America/Mexico_City time zone — UTC-6 year-round, since Mexico no longer observes daylight saving time. That directly affects what time the match airs in different parts of the world. Viewers in Brazil simply need to add or subtract the difference relative to Brasília (UTC-3) to know when to tune in.