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The complete schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been announced, with live matches set to air on TVRI, and fans eagerly awaiting the performances of global stars including Lionel Messi.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will kick off on 11 June and run until 19 July, featuring 48 teams — the largest number in the tournament’s history — ensuring more matches than ever before.

This edition will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Among the individual accolades up for grabs, the Golden Boot remains one of the most prestigious, awarded to the tournament’s top goal scorer.

Past winners of the Golden Boot include some of the sport’s greatest legends such as Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Mario Kempes, Paolo Rossi, Gary Lineker, and Ronaldo Nazario.

In recent editions, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane have claimed the award, and both players will have a chance to make history by becoming the first to win the Golden Boot twice at this summer’s tournament.

However, a host of attacking talents will also be competing for the honour, with several top stars aiming to carve their names into the record books.

So, who are the leading candidates for the 2026 Golden Boot?

Although the United States may appear to be outsiders in the race for the Golden Boot, they boast one of the most prolific forwards in world football in Folarin Balogun.

The 24-year-old striker recently completed an impressive season with Monaco, scoring 19 goals — 12 of them coming in just 18 appearances since the start of the year.

Under the guidance of Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. will hope that home advantage helps them make a significant impact in the tournament. Drawn in Group D alongside Paraguay, Turkey, and Australia, they have a realistic chance of progressing to the knockout stages, possibly as group winners.

Since switching his international allegiance from England, Balogun has also shown impressive consistency at the international level.

Heading into the World Cup, he has recorded nine goals and four assists in 26 appearances and will be eager to add to that tally this summer.

Colombia’s Luis Diaz enters the World Cup following an outstanding debut season in Germany after moving from Liverpool to Bayern Munich last summer. The forward netted 26 goals and established himself as one of Europe’s most feared attackers.

Diaz has been central to Colombia’s campaign, showcasing his quality during the qualifiers. His two goals against Brazil secured a historic victory for Colombia, just days after his father’s release from a traumatic kidnapping incident.

The Colombian star later scored a stunning goal against reigning world champions Argentina, proving his ability to shine on the biggest stage. Colombia’s opening group match against debutants Uzbekistan provides an opportunity for a strong start to the tournament.

Vinicius Jr. has reunited with his former Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti at the international level, and the Brazil manager hopes to finally unlock the full potential of the talented winger for the Selecao.

In Palangka Raya, Deputy Mayor Achmad Zaini expressed his excitement for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

He noted that the world’s biggest football event is one that people eagerly anticipate, offering a chance to witness top-quality matches featuring the world’s best players.

“We should be grateful. God willing, this year we can once again follow the World Cup. It’s a great opportunity for all of us to watch the matches. I’m a football fan myself,” said Zaini after attending the joint ceremony commemorating Pancasila Day at the Palangka Raya City Hall on Monday, 1 June 2026.

He hopes the enthusiasm of the 2026 World Cup will also be felt by the people of Palangka Raya.

One of the ways to foster this excitement, he said, is through public viewing events (nobar) where residents can come together to enjoy the matches as a community.

“Hopefully we can watch together. We also plan to hold community watch events here in the city. I’ll discuss it with the Mayor of Palangka Raya,” he added.

When asked about his favourite players, Zaini admitted that he still admires the veteran stars who have long been icons of world football.

Names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain etched in his mind when talking about international football.

“My favourites are still the senior players — like Messi and Ronaldo,” he said with a smile.

Nevertheless, he hopes that the 2026 World Cup will not only feature familiar stars but also introduce new talents who can prove themselves on the global stage.

According to him, one of the main attractions of the World Cup is the emergence of young players who deliver impressive performances and later develop into global football stars.

“There will be many great players. Hopefully, we’ll see new world-class talents emerge at this World Cup. It’s usually at the World Cup that such players come to prominence,” he remarked.

Zaini also underscored the importance of player regeneration to ensure that global football continues to offer exciting spectacles for fans worldwide.

He added that it’s time for the new generation to step up and continue the legacy of the senior stars of international football.

The following is the detailed schedule of the FIFA World Cup 2026:

Thursday, 11 June
Group A: Mexico vs South Africa, kick-off 23:00 - Mexico City, Mexico

Friday, 12 June
Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, kick-off 06:00 - Zapopan, Mexico
Group B: Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 23:00 - Toronto, Canada

Saturday, 13 June
Group D: USA vs Paraguay, kick-off 05:00 - Los Angeles, USA
Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, kick-off 23:00 - Santa Clara, USA

Sunday, 14 June
Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, kick-off 02:00 - New Jersey, USA
Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, kick-off 05:00 - Foxborough, USA
Group D: Australia vs Turkey, kick-off 08:00 - Vancouver, Canada
Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, kick-off 21:00 - Houston, USA

Monday, 15 June
Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, kick-off midnight - Arlington, USA
Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador, kick-off 03:00 - Philadelphia, USA
Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia, kick-off 06:00 - Guadalupe, Mexico
Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde, kick-off 20:00 - Atlanta, USA
Group G: Belgium vs Egypt, kick-off 23:00 - Seattle, USA

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