Will 2026 World Cup matches be on TV at midnight in the UK?

Will some of the World Cup 2026 matches be on past bedtime?

World Cup matches might be on TV after midnight for fans in the UK.

The massive tournament is taking place in three different countries next year: Canada, Mexico and the US during the summer.

However, summer temperatures in some of these countries can reach 40C, and some football players and coaches have expressed their concerns that the scorching temperatures could affect the players' health.

Fifa - the organiser of the tournament - has said it is considering scheduling the matches for a later time, so it is not so hot for the players.

However, because of the time-difference between the countries and the UK, it means that some matches could take place when it is the middle of the night in the UK.

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It was thought that the games might be scheduled for similar times to the recent Club World Cup, where the earliest games started at 17:00 (British Summer Time), followed by 20:00, 23:00 and 02:00.

However, the 17:00 and 20:00 would mean a midday kick-off on the US east coast and 23:00 and 02:00 a midday kick-off on the US west coast.

Temperatures are usually hottest around midday, and Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique complained about his team having to play in near 40 degree heat in their Club World Cup match against Atletico Madrid in Los Angeles, which started at midday in the US.

Many coaches and players were affected by the heat and humidity during the match, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez complaining of dizziness while playing.

The previous World Cup held in Qatar in 2022, was the first to take place during the winter instead of the summer, when the tournament is traditionally held.

This is because summer temperatures in the region can be extremely hot.

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Of the stadiums being used for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, 16 have roofs, or a sliding roof, that can provide shade, but organisers have said that it is impractical for all the early kick-offs to be played in them.

Victor Montagliani, president of the North and Central American Confederation Concacaf, said that Fifa would "learn" from the experience of players and fans at the Club World Cup.

"Kick-off times are always an issue in our region because summers are hot in Canada and US," he said.

"We're having conversations daily with European media and other world media, in terms of what's best and which are the stadiums that you can play at 3pm. That's all in the mix now.

"Once the actual schedule comes out after the draw, we will do our best to ensure it's taken into consideration. Will it be that every game will be absolutely perfect from a kick-off time, from a TV perspective? I don't know."