Houston Sur 3:8 GFI 
FC Motown II 3:1 Hudson Valley Hammers 
West Chester United 3:1 Lone Star II 
Delaware FC 0:2 PA Classics 
La Fama 2:2 Britannia 
Argentina 3:0 Algeria 
Austria 3:1 Jordan 
Central Stallions 1:0 Ulaanbaatar 
Canberra White Eagles 1:2 Canberra FC 
Changnyeong W 1:6 Suwon FMC W 
Gyeongju W 0:1 Hwacheon KSPO W 
Gumi Sportstoto W 0:0 Incheon Red Angels W 
Seoul W 2:1 Boeun Sangmu W 
Khoromkhon 2:5 Ulaangom City 
Mbeya City 0:1 Simba 
Maniema Union 1:1 JSK 
Simba 0:0 Vita Club 
APEJES Academy 1:1 Kumba 
Singida Black Stars 5:0 Dodoma Jiji 
Gareji 0:0 Shturmi 
Merani Martvili 2:1 Samtredia 
Gazelle 0:2 Canon 
Don Bosco 0:3 TP Mazembe 
Saint Eloi Lupopo 1:1 Céleste 
Molodechno-DYuSSh 4 1:4 Bate Borisov 
Arsenal Tula 1:2 Volga Ulyanovsk 
Kolkheti Poti 1:1 Gori 
Grindavik 0:1 Fylkir 
IR Reykjavik 2:1 Grotta 
Kairat Almaty 3:0 Kyzyl-Zhar 
The 2026 World Cup has kicked off, but not on time. The first eight matches all started late. The latest example was the Scotland vs. Haiti game in Massachusetts. Fans showed up expecting a 3:00 PM start, but the game began several minutes after the scheduled time. This pattern has left many wondering: why can’t games start on time?
The Pattern That Frustrates Fans
It’s not just one game here or there. Every single match in the opening rounds of the 2026 tournament has been delayed. Some games were just a few minutes late, while others took longer to get going. Here’s a look at the problem:
- Scotland vs. Haiti – started 15 minutes late
- Other matches also missed their scheduled kickoff times
For fans watching from home or in the stadium, this can be annoying. They plan their day around the start time, only to wait extra minutes.
Why the Clock Keeps Ticking Past Kickoff
So what’s causing all these delays? There are several reasons. First, TV networks want to squeeze in more pre-game coverage and commercials. They ask for extra time before the game to show interviews and analysis. Second, pre-match ceremonies take longer than planned. National anthems, player handshakes, and team photos eat up the clock. Third, small logistical issues like crowd control, VAR checks, or weather can push things back.
All these little things add up. Organizers try to plan for them, but it’s hard to get everything to line up perfectly.
What Organizers Are Doing to Fix It
The tournament organizers know this is a problem. They’re looking at ways to speed up the process. Some ideas include setting stricter time limits for pre-match shows and cutting down on unnecessary steps. They also want to talk with broadcasters about starting the coverage earlier so the game itself can begin on time.
It’s a work in progress. For now, fans might want to add a few minutes to their schedule.
What It Means for the Rest of the Tournament
As the World Cup continues, expect some matches to still start late. But organizers are hopeful they can improve. If you’re planning to watch a game, it’s a good idea to tune in a little early – but don’t expect the actual kickoff to happen right at the advertised time. The trend of tardiness might be here to stay, at least for a while.