Group I

Group I at the FIFA World Cup 2026 spans 5 timezones, from UTC+3 (Iraq) to UTC-3 (Brazil, home of France’s diaspora communities). The four nations, France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq, play all their matches across the US Northeast corridor at EDT (UTC-4). For European fanbases, Group I offers some of the best viewing windows of the entire tournament.

The Timezone Picture

French fans watch in CEST (UTC+2), six hours ahead of EDT. Norwegian supporters observe CEST (UTC+2) as well, sharing France’s exact clock. Senegalese fans are at GMT (UTC+0), four hours ahead of EDT. Iraqi supporters sit at AST (UTC+3), seven hours ahead. A 3:00 PM EDT kickoff in New York lands at 9:00 PM in Paris and Oslo, 7:00 PM in Dakar, and 10:00 PM in Baghdad. Group I may be the most European-friendly group in the tournament.

Full Match Schedule

Who Watches Comfortably?

France and Norway fans share identical viewing times throughout Group I. The 3:00 PM EDT fixtures land at 9:00 PM CEST, a near-perfect summer football evening for Central European viewers. The group finale on June 26 delivers both matches simultaneously at 3:00 PM EDT, meaning 9:00 PM CEST for all of France and Norway. This is the best scheduling outcome a European fanbase can hope for.

Senegalese fans watch the France vs Senegal opener at 7:00 PM local time, ideal. The Norway vs Senegal match at 8:00 PM EDT pushes to midnight in Dakar, and the June 26 Iraq vs Senegal game is 7:00 PM locally, back to comfortable.

Iraqi fans get one reasonable match (France vs Iraq at 10:00 PM Baghdad), but the Norway vs Iraq opener and Norway vs Senegal game both fall between 3:00 AM and 4:00 AM Baghdad time.

Venues

Group I is played at MetLife Stadium (New York, EDT/UTC-4), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, EDT/UTC-4), and Gillette Stadium (Boston, EDT/UTC-4). All three venues share Eastern Daylight Time, removing any timezone variation within the group. European fans use a single +6 offset for every Group I fixture.

Timezone Conflict Index

The 9:00 PM EDT Norway vs Iraq opener is Group I’s toughest watch for European fans, landing at 3:00 AM Paris and Oslo time. The 3:00 PM EDT fixtures for France’s matches are genuinely excellent for a European audience. Group I gives France and Norway fans the most consistently accessible group stage schedule of any nation in the tournament.

For group analysis and match previews, see whensport.com.