India kickoff time · Group stage · Group A

Mexico vs South Africa kickoff time in India

The Mexico vs South Africa match kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Fri, Jun 12, 2026. Played at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.

IST kickoff
12:30 AM
India date
Fri, Jun 12
Venue local
1:00 PM
Watchability
Late night

Late-night kickoff in India. Stay-up-for-it territory on a weekday.

Home
Mexico
FIFA rank #17
Away
South Africa
FIFA rank #56

Where to watch in India

Primary FIFA World Cup 2026 rights holders for India:

Other options: FIFA+.

Full India viewing guide →

About this match

Mexico vs South Africa is the 1st fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and an opening-day match in Group A. The game is played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with a local kickoff of 1:00 PM. For viewers in India, that translates to 12:30 AM IST on Fri, Jun 12, 2026.

Mexico enters the tournament with a FIFA ranking of 17, while South Africa is ranked 56. All times converted from venue local time to IST. East-coast venues (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami) and Mexico City venues produce the most India-friendly kickoff windows. West-coast venues (Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver) push into the early-morning IST window. Plan your viewing around the 9:30 PM IST slot when possible.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Mexico vs South Africa kick off in India?

Mexico vs South Africa kicks off at 12:30 AM IST on Fri, Jun 12, 2026 in India. The match is played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (local kickoff 1:00 PM).

Where can I watch Mexico vs South Africa live in India?

In India, Unite8 Sports 1 / Unite8 Sports 1 HD (Hindi) and Unite8 Sports 2 / Unite8 Sports 2 HD (English) and ZEE5 hold the primary FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights. Zee's new Hindi-language sports channel, launched specifically for the World Cup 2026 rollout. Confirmed as Zee's primary live broadcast home for the tournament alongside Unite8 Sports 2. Check our India viewing guide for the latest streaming and TV options.

What stage of the tournament is Mexico vs South Africa?

This is a group stage match in Group A, the opening fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Is the kickoff time good for India viewers?

Late-night kickoff in India. Stay-up-for-it territory on a weekday. For full IST/local kickoff conversions across all 104 matches, see our complete schedule page.

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