The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is officially on, with football fans across Kenya preparing for the biggest tournament in the competition’s history.
The tournament kicks off on June 11 and runs until July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams battling for football’s biggest prize.
Unlike previous editions, the 2026 World Cup will feature a record 104 matches, meaning more football, more drama and, unfortunately for Kenyan fans, a few sleepless nights.
Kenyan Fans Should Prepare for Late Nights
With the tournament being hosted in North America, many matches will be played during the late evening, midnight and early morning hours in Kenya.
Some of the biggest fixtures will kick off between 1:00 AM and 7:00 AM East African Time (EAT), meaning fans may have to choose between sleep and football.
The good news is that several matches will still be played during prime-time viewing hours, including games scheduled at 8:00 PM, 10:00 PM and 11:00 PM EAT.
Biggest Group Stage Matches for Kenyan Fans
Some of the standout fixtures during the opening stages include:
- Mexico vs South Africa – June 11 (10:00 PM EAT)
- USA vs Paraguay – June 13 (4:00 AM EAT)
- Brazil vs Morocco – June 14 (1:00 AM EAT)
- Germany vs Curaçao – June 14 (8:00 PM EAT)
- Spain vs Cabo Verde – June 15 (7:00 PM EAT)
- France vs Senegal – June 16 (10:00 PM EAT)
- Argentina vs Algeria – June 17 (4:00 AM EAT)
- Portugal vs DR Congo – June 17 (8:00 PM EAT)
- England vs Croatia – June 17 (11:00 PM EAT)
- Netherlands vs Sweden – June 20 (8:00 PM EAT)
- Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire – June 20 (11:00 PM EAT)
- Argentina vs Austria – June 22 (8:00 PM EAT)
- England vs Ghana – June 23 (11:00 PM EAT)
- Norway vs France – June 26 (10:00 PM EAT)
- Uruguay vs Spain – June 27 (3:00 AM EAT)
Africa’s Representatives in Action
African football fans will be keeping a close eye on several continental representatives including:
- South Africa
- Morocco
- Senegal
- Ghana
- Egypt
- Tunisia
- DR Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cape Verde
Many of these nations will be hoping to make history and become the first African side to reach a FIFA World Cup final.
Where to Watch the World Cup in Kenya
All 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches are expected to be broadcast live on SuperSport through DStv.
Fans will also be able to stream matches via the DStv Stream app on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and computers.
Local broadcasters are expected to announce additional coverage plans closer to the start of the tournament.
Bigger Than Ever
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition ever staged, bringing together 48 nations from across the globe.
For Kenyan football lovers, it promises over a month of football action, unforgettable moments, surprise results and plenty of alarms set for 3:00 AM kick-offs.
The only question now is simple: are you ready for a month of football and very little sleep?
