Argentina vs Algeria kicks off at 8:00 PM CDT (UTC-5) on June 16, 2026 at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. This is the Group J opener at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Kickoff times around the world
| City | Local time |
|---|---|
| Kansas City (CDT) | 8:00 PM |
| New York (EDT) | 9:00 PM |
| Sao Paulo (BRT) | 10:00 PM |
| London (BST) | 2:00 AM +1 |
| Paris (CEST) | 3:00 AM +1 |
| Dubai (GST) | 5:00 AM +1 |
| Mumbai (IST) | 6:30 AM +1 |
| Tokyo (JST) | 10:00 AM +1 |
| Sydney (AEST) | 11:00 AM +1 |
Who gets a comfortable window?
Kansas City’s 8:00 PM CDT Tuesday kickoff is prime evening. New York at 9:00 PM EDT is late but a Tuesday evening. Buenos Aires (UTC-3 in June) is at 10:00 PM local time, late but within reach for Argentine fans who famously stay up for football. Algiers, Algeria (UTC+1 in summer) catches kickoff at 3:00 AM, an overnight commitment for North African supporters. The Algerian diaspora in France is significant; they face 3:00 AM CEST alongside the rest of Europe. London at 2:00 AM BST. Tokyo and Sydney land at 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM respectively.
Historical context
Argentina’s 2022 World Cup title defence kicked off with a shocking 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, a match that started at 13:00 Doha time (11:00 Buenos Aires time). Argentine fans watched that infamous upset in the morning. A 10:00 PM Buenos Aires slot in 2026 is a return to a more typical South American late-evening football culture. Algeria has not appeared at a World Cup since 2014; that tournament was hosted in Brazil, with matches kicking off between 13:00 and 22:00 Algiers time.
Check current time in Buenos Aires at whatisthetime.now/buenos-aires and in Algiers at whatisthetime.now/algiers.
For match preview and analysis, see whensport.com
- What time does Argentina vs Algeria kick off?
- Kickoff is at 8:00 PM local time (America/Chicago) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on 2026-06-16.
- Where is Argentina vs Algeria being played?
- Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Capacity: 76,416.
- What group is Argentina vs Algeria in?
- This is a Group J match in the FIFA World Cup 2026.