Tonight the World Cup won't let you sleep: four group stage matches will stretch from 19:00 until morning Kyiv time. The main intrigue is Belgium's debut in Group G against Mohamed Salah's Egypt — the question isn't just about the result, but whether the Belgian defense can withstand the pressure of the tournament's most dangerous player. Plan your evening — you won't want to miss this.
Schedule for the Day
- 19:00 Kyiv time. Spain vs Cape Verde (Group H, Matchday 1) — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- 22:00 Kyiv time. Belgium vs Egypt (Group G, Matchday 1) — Lumen Field, Seattle
- 01:00 Kyiv time (June 16). Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (Group H, Matchday 1) — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- 04:00 Kyiv time (June 16). Iran vs New Zealand (Group G, Matchday 1) — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
19:00 Kyiv Time. Spain vs Cape Verde (Group H)
Spain opens their tournament against World Cup debutants Cape Verde. For La Furia Roja, this is the first step toward defending their status as one of the main contenders for the trophy. Cape Verde are appearing at a World Cup for the first time in history, and that fact alone is a sensation. For the islanders, every minute on the pitch in Atlanta is a page in the history books of football. Watch how Spain build their game against the debutants' compact defense.
22:00 Kyiv Time. Belgium vs Egypt (Group G) — Match of the Day
This is the headline match of the evening. Belgium, under Rudi Garcia, enter their first Group G game with captain Youri Tielemans and a star-studded attack: Kevin De Bruyne, Jérémy Doku, and Leandro Trossard are all expected to start. However, the defense is a real concern: defender Zeno Debast is injured and will not play, leaving Garcia to patch up the backline in front of Thibaut Courtois. In pre-tournament friendlies, the Belgians demolished the USA 5–2 and Tunisia 5–0, showcasing their attacking firepower.
Egypt build their game around Mohamed Salah — and the duel between Salah and the Belgian defense is the central storyline of the match. Omar Marmoush is expected alongside him. The Egyptians are counting on counterattacks: if Belgium open up going forward, Salah and Marmoush are ready to punish them instantly. What's at stake: both teams start from zero — a win provides an excellent position heading into the next rounds, while a defeat immediately complicates the fight for the top two spots in the group.
Group G is one of the most intriguing at the tournament: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. All four teams play their opening matches tonight, so by morning the picture in the group will be much clearer.
01:00 Kyiv Time (June 16). Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (Group H)
The second Group H game pits Saudi Arabia against Uruguay in Miami. Uruguay, with their experienced attack, are eager to pick up points in the opening match. Saudi Arabia, who remember their sensational victory over Argentina in 2022, are once again set on causing an upset. It's a late kick-off, but for true night-owl fans — it's unmissable.
04:00 Kyiv Time (June 16). Iran vs New Zealand (Group G)
The matchday closes with a Group G fixture at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Iran and New Zealand open their accounts in the group where Belgium and Egypt will have already played a few hours earlier. For both teams, starting with a win is critical to staying in contention for a place in the knockout rounds. This one is for those willing to stay up until dawn.
Read the results of all matches in the evening edition of Night Mundial and in the morning digest at 08:00 Kyiv time — everything that matters from one night.
