Today, July 13, the World Cup sees its longest break since the tournament began: no matches at all. But starting tomorrow evening, the hottest stage of the 2026 World Cup gets underway — two semi-finals that will determine who reaches the final. If you're planning your evening around the 2026 World Cup schedule in Kyiv time, here's everything you need to know.
Today's schedule: no matches
Monday, July 13, is a rest day at the 2026 World Cup. It is the longest break in play since the tournament kicked off on June 11. The next match is tomorrow, July 14.
All group-stage matches in Kyiv time — and what comes next
The group stage and the knockout rounds are behind us. Of the 48 teams, four remain: France, Spain, England and Argentina. Ahead are two semi-finals, the third-place match (July 18) and the final (July 19) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Knockout-stage matches: dates and Kyiv times
- July 14, 22:00 Kyiv time. France vs Spain (Semi-final #1). AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (15:00 ET).
- July 15, 22:00 Kyiv time. England vs Argentina (Semi-final #2). Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (15:00 ET).
- July 18, 00:00 Kyiv time. Third-place match. Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (17:00 ET).
- July 19, 22:00 Kyiv time. 2026 World Cup Final. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (15:00 ET).
France vs Spain: why this is the final before the final
The first semi-final brings together the two highest-ranked European national teams. France made it through the knockout rounds without conceding a single goal: victories over Sweden, Paraguay and Morocco (2:0) have made Les Bleus the most defensively solid side in the tournament. Spain, by contrast, had to dig deep — both of their last two matches were decided by Mikel Merino coming off the bench. Even so, La Roja have conceded just one goal in five matches — against Belgium in the quarter-finals.
The key personnel question is the fitness of Kylian Mbappé. France's captain took a knock to his ankle against Morocco and was substituted in the 77th minute, but assured journalists he is "completely fine." He is expected to start. There is a question mark over Aurélien Tchouaméni (thigh injury), who missed the previous two matches. Spain will line up in their usual 4-3-3 with Rodri and Pedri in midfield and Lamine Yamal on the wing. It was Yamal who scored against France at Euro 2024 — and now they meet again, this time at the World Cup.
The Mbappé vs Yamal duel is the tournament's most talked-about clash. Mbappé has 8 goals at this World Cup (20 in total across his World Cup career), while Yamal is Spain's key playmaker as they chase their first final appearance since 2010. In 38 previous meetings between the two sides, Spain have won 18 times.
England vs Argentina: revenge 40 years in the making
The second semi-final takes place on July 15 at 22:00 Kyiv time in Atlanta. England advanced after beating Norway (2:1) in extra time, while Argentina dismantled Switzerland 3:1. Jude Bellingham scored twice in the quarter-final and now has six goals in the knockout stage. Lionel Messi, for his part, has scored 8 goals in 6 matches at this tournament. For England, this is only their fourth World Cup semi-final in history — and their first since 2018. Read more about both teams' journeys in our article "France vs Spain and England vs Argentina: 2026 World Cup match schedule".
How to convert ET to Kyiv time
All matches at this World Cup are being played in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To get Kyiv time (UTC+3), add 7 hours to Eastern Time (ET). Both semi-finals kick off at 15:00 ET — that's 22:00 Kyiv time. The final on July 19 is also at 15:00 ET = 22:00 Kyiv time.
Look for recaps of both semi-finals in the evening editions and the morning digest on Nightly Mundial. Also keep an eye on our 2026 World Cup schedule in Kyiv time — it is updated daily.
Photo: Yahoo Sports Staff · Editorial (source)
