The 2026 World Cup is entering its decisive phase: today, July 7, the Round of 16 concludes, and the quarterfinals kick off on Thursday. The World Cup 2026 match schedule in Kyiv time is the key question for Ukrainian fans, as most games take place late at night or in the early morning.
Today: The Last Two Round of 16 Matches
Today, July 7, two final Round of 16 matches are on the pitch. Argentina faces Egypt at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (kickoff at 19:00 Kyiv time), while Switzerland takes on Colombia at BC Place in Vancouver (kickoff at 23:00 Kyiv time). Both matches will determine the last two quarterfinalists.
The reigning world champions — Argentina — are looking to defend their title. For Egypt, this is potentially the greatest result in their history: Morocco and France are already in the quarterfinals, and the "Pharaohs" want to join the elite. Ahead of the match, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan delivered a speech at the press conference, speaking for over four minutes about the situation in Gaza and receiving applause from journalists. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, following his defeat to Spain, confirmed that this tournament was his last World Cup.
As for the Switzerland vs. Colombia match: the "Nati" are aiming to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1954. Colombia holds a slight edge in the forecasts: according to Opta's calculations, the "Cafeteros" have a 41.9% chance of winning in regular time, Switzerland 28.2%, with another 29.9% of simulations ending in a draw.
World Cup 2026 Match Schedule in Kyiv Time: Quarterfinals (July 9–11)
After the Round of 16 concludes, the tournament moves entirely to the United States — there will be no more matches in Mexico or Canada. The four quarterfinals will be held in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Kansas City.
- Thursday, July 9 — 23:00 Kyiv time: Morocco vs. France, Boston (Gillette Stadium)
- Friday, July 10 — 19:00 Kyiv time: Spain vs. Belgium, Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium)
- Saturday, July 11 — 23:00 Kyiv time: Norway vs. England, Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
- Saturday, July 11 — 03:00 Kyiv time (July 12): Winner of Argentina/Egypt vs. Winner of Switzerland/Colombia, Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
All quarterfinals are knockout matches with possible extra time and a penalty shootout. To convert ET to Kyiv time: Eastern Time (ET) + 7 hours = Kyiv time (UTC+3). For example, a 16:00 ET kickoff equals 23:00 Kyiv time.
Context: What We Already Know About the Quarterfinalists
Six of the eight quarterfinal spots have already been filled. Morocco, France, Spain, and Belgium confirmed their advancement earlier — more details in the morning digest on Spain and Belgium. Norway and England also secured their places in the top 8 after victories over Brazil and Mexico respectively. Read about the Brazil vs. Norway and Mexico vs. England matches in a separate article.
In total, the 2026 World Cup features 104 matches — a record number in the tournament's history thanks to the expanded 48-team format. The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Tonight — Argentina vs. Egypt (19:00 Kyiv time) and Switzerland vs. Colombia (23:00 Kyiv time); a detailed quarterfinal preview will follow.
Photo: Sean Leahy · Editorial (source)
