FIFA World Cup 2026 in Malaysia
Your BK8 FIFA hub for the first 48-team World Cup: the schedule in Malaysian time, the 12 groups, the new Round of 32, how to watch free, and the nine Asian teams. Updated as of 26 June 2026.
What's on now
As of 26 June 2026, the group stage is in its final matchdays and concludes on 27 June. The brand-new Round of 32 then runs from 28 June to 3 July 2026, so the early knockouts are about to begin. Follow the day-by-day schedule in Malaysian time to plan your viewing.
Live group standings, qualification places and the bracket change match by match. We do not freeze them here. For the latest results and the up-to-date knockout bracket, check the official tracker on FIFA.com (verified 26 June 2026).
Explore the World Cup 2026 hub
Schedule (MYT)
Every matchday converted to Malaysian time, with the knockout path from the Round of 32 to the final on 19 July 2026.
Results
All completed match scores, updated daily, with the official live table on FIFA.com.
Groups A to L
All 12 groups of four from the final draw of 5 December 2025, with every confirmed line-up in one place.
Round of 32
How the new 32-team knockout round works, who reaches it, and the dates from 28 June to 3 July 2026.
How to watch
Free on RTM and RTMKlik, paid passes on Unifi TV, and why it is not on Astro this time.
Asian teams
A record nine AFC nations qualified, including debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan. Meet them all.
How the 48-team format works
This is the 23rd FIFA World Cup, officially FIFA World Cup 26, and the first to feature 48 teams instead of 32. It is also the first World Cup shared by three host nations: the United States (11 host cities), Mexico (3) and Canada (2), for 16 host cities in total. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026, the longest World Cup ever at 39 days.
- The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four, labelled A to L.
- The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, make 32 sides that advance to a new Round of 32.
- That works out at 104 matches in all: 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockouts.
- Argentina are the defending champions after their 2022 win.
- Malaysia did not qualify and has never reached a World Cup finals.
Kick-off times in Malaysia
Malaysia runs on MYT, which is UTC+8. There is no single offset for the whole tournament, because the 16 host cities span several North American time zones. As a rough guide, US Eastern kick-offs add 12 hours to reach MYT, US Central adds 13, US Mountain and Mexico add 14, and US and Canada Pacific add 15.
Since all the host cities sit between UTC-7 and UTC-4, the bulk of matches land roughly 3am to noon MYT. That means early-morning viewing for most Malaysian fans, often overlapping Subuh. Ramadan 2026 falls around February and March, so it does not overlap the tournament. Before you set an alarm, confirm each fixture's exact MYT time on the schedule page, since it depends on which host city the match is in.
Where to watch in Malaysia
Two official Malaysian carriers hold the rights, and no other legal local broadcaster carries the tournament.
- Free on RTM: all 104 matches are available free via RTM as a mix of live, delayed telecasts and video-on-demand. The RTMKlik app streams all 104 with no registration and no MyDigital ID required. Free channels include TV1, TV2, TV Okey, RTM Sports and Berita RTM.
- Paid on Unifi TV: as of 26 June 2026, the Season Pass is RM60 one-time (RM50 for existing Unifi TV customers) and the Daily Pass is RM20. The Season Pass is open to non-subscribers too. Prices can change, so confirm on the official Unifi TV page.
- Not on Astro: Astro has confirmed it will not broadcast the 2026 World Cup, and it is not on NJOI or Sooka either.
For the full breakdown of channels, apps and passes, read our how to watch guide.
Following the World Cup with BK8
The BK8 FIFA hub keeps the football reading in one place, and BK8's sportsbook is where fans who choose to bet can follow the knockouts. We do not print any odds numbers or prices here, and we make no claims about winnings. Instead, our BK8 betting guide explains the market types you will see, such as 1X2, Asian handicap and over/under, and how live in-play betting works on supported matches.
Read before you bet
Learn how football markets work on BK8, then decide for yourself. Betting is 18+ only. Please play responsibly and read our responsible gambling guidance.
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The group stage runs 11 to 27 June 2026 and concludes on 27 June. The new Round of 32 follows from 28 June to 3 July 2026. As standings and the bracket shift match by match, check the live picture on FIFA.com.
RTM carries all 104 matches free as a mix of live, delayed and video-on-demand, and the RTMKlik app streams all 104 with no registration and no MyDigital ID needed. Free RTM channels include TV1, TV2, TV Okey, RTM Sports and Berita RTM.
As of 26 June 2026, Unifi TV lists a Season Pass at RM60 one-time (RM50 for existing Unifi TV customers) and a Daily Pass at RM20. The Season Pass is open to non-subscribers too. Prices can change, so confirm on the official Unifi TV page.
No. Astro has confirmed it will not broadcast the 2026 World Cup, and it is not on NJOI or Sooka either. The two legal Malaysian carriers are RTM (free) and Unifi TV (paid).
No. Malaysia did not qualify and has never reached a World Cup finals. A record nine AFC nations did qualify: Australia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Uzbekistan.
Malaysia runs on MYT (UTC+8). Because all 16 host cities sit between UTC-7 and UTC-4, most matches land roughly 3am to noon MYT, early-morning viewing that overlaps Subuh. Confirm each fixture's exact MYT time against the official schedule, as it depends on the host city.
Catch every World Cup 2026 match
Bookmark the BK8 FIFA hub for the schedule in Malaysian time, the groups, the Round of 32, and how to watch. Betting is 18+ only and offered on BK8's sportsbook. Please play responsibly.
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