FIFA 2026 Final: Afternoon Kickoff for Global Audience, Heat Risk Cited

• The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final is set for July 19 at 3 p.m. EDT at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
• The afternoon kickoff time aims to optimize global viewership, allowing for prime-time viewing in Europe and Britain.
• FIFA's scheduling considered travel, broadcast logistics, and varying climatic conditions across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
• FIFPRO warned that afternoon matches in some host cities, including East Rutherford, posed a "high risk" of heat-related injury for players.
• The expanded 48-nation tournament will feature 104 matches, with all quarterfinals onward held in the U.S.

Why It Matters: New World Cup schedule balances global viewership with player heat risks.