Iran

Iran fans watch the 2026 World Cup from Tehran (IRST, UTC+3:30). Their Group G matches kick off between 00:30 and 08:30 local time, spanning late night through early morning across an unusually challenging overnight schedule.

What the schedule means for Iranian fans

Iran Summer Time is UTC+4:30 from late March, but the offset to West Coast US venues in June remains substantial. Every Group G match in Los Angeles and Seattle translates to the late night or early morning hours in Tehran. Iran also uses a 30-minute offset from the hour, an unusual position that affects every kickoff calculation.

Group G local kickoff times in Tehran

• June 15: vs New Zealand at Los Angeles. 06:30 June 16 (Tehran)
• June 21: vs Belgium at Los Angeles. 00:30 June 22 (Tehran)
• June 26: vs Egypt at Seattle. 08:30 June 27 (Tehran)

Every match at an awkward hour

None of Iran’s three group matches fall within conventional viewing hours in Tehran. The Belgium match after midnight, the New Zealand opener before dawn at 06:30, and the Egypt finale as a morning kickoff represent three consecutive sleep-disruption challenges.

Iran’s football culture is deeply embedded. The national team has qualified for six World Cups and maintains a broad following despite the demanding viewing windows created by distance from European and American venues. At Qatar 2022, Iran’s matches landed in much more accessible Iranian time slots given the proximity.

The large Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles, known informally as Tehrangeles, has the rare advantage of watching Group G matches at the venues themselves or at comfortable local Pacific time slots. For Iranians in Germany, Sweden, and other European diaspora concentrations, the Belgium midnight viewing and Egypt morning match are the same pattern as at home.

Check Iran time for live conversions throughout the tournament. For full match previews and analysis, see whensport.com.