After the total shitshow of the draw itself, here are the details:

Kick off times below are in UK time (BST) so add 6 hours for Thailand times:

There's no surprise that kick-off times in this World Cup won't be convenient for most of us who will be in Pattaya. I am due to arrive at the tail end of the Round of 32 games. I can see myself catching re-runs of the games I'm interested in at Danny's or in one of the other sports bars.

Just far too many teams & pointless games for me

 

 

On 08/12/2025 at 09:07, jaynewcastle said:

Just far too many teams & pointless games for me

 

 

You're right. It will get interesting early on if we lose a few big nations, but the big nations are all fairly safe in their initial groups. It feels like it has been set up to keep those big nations into the later rounds, while milking the system to have lots of teams and matches. Money is spoiling the sport even more than usual. I think people will be more interested once we hit the last 16. I'm wondering if England will be so fatigued after a long draining EPL season without a real break to do well. 

I'm saying nothing. I already jinxed the fuck outta the cricket!

What can we realistically expect during the 2026 World Cup?  

I’m trying to get a sense of how the local atmosphere might look, especially considering the match schedule. Many games involving European teams will kick off at 1 a.m., 2 a.m., or even 3 a.m. local time, which raises a few practical questions.

Does anyone remember how things went during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? The time difference created a similar situation. Any memories or insights from that time would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what they know or what they expect.

1 hour ago, panico said:

What can we realistically expect during the 2026 World Cup?  

I’m trying to get a sense of how the local atmosphere might look, especially considering the match schedule. Many games involving European teams will kick off at 1 a.m., 2 a.m., or even 3 a.m. local time, which raises a few practical questions.

Does anyone remember how things went during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? The time difference created a similar situation. Any memories or insights from that time would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what they know or what they expect.

 

 

You can expect a tonne of bars showing the games but the time zone will be rough.

The 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. games are easily watchable, as the bars will be open and the atmosphere will be great as the girls tend to love footbon (and gambling on it). It’s the later games that will be the issue. My time conversions may be incorrect, but there appear to be many games kicking off at like 5 a.m. or even 7 a.m., which makes for a difficult watch. Most bars will be closed and while you might be able to catch them over breakfast at a restaurant it won't be the same (at least for me).

I was in Brazil during 2014 so can't share on how it was in Thailand but I have been there for 3-4 other World Cups and it's a really fun place to watch the games. Even last World Cup which had all sorts of alcohol / closing-time restrictions due to the Covid hangover was still an absolute blast.

Looking at the timezone, I've resigned myself to watching only the big games at night and taking it easy on the booze and pulling up early to catch the important early morning games. 

Can't wait! 😀

 

3 hours ago, panico said:

What can we realistically expect during the 2026 World Cup?  

I’m trying to get a sense of how the local atmosphere might look, especially considering the match schedule. Many games involving European teams will kick off at 1 a.m., 2 a.m., or even 3 a.m. local time, which raises a few practical questions.

Does anyone remember how things went during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil? The time difference created a similar situation. Any memories or insights from that time would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can share what they know or what they expect.

 

 

Are you asking about the atmosphere in North America, Europe or Thailand? 

On 19/12/2025 at 11:16, Magicalstory said:

You're right. It will get interesting early on if we lose a few big nations, but the big nations are all fairly safe in their initial groups. It feels like it has been set up to keep those big nations into the later rounds, while milking the system to have lots of teams and matches. Money is spoiling the sport even more than usual. I think people will be more interested once we hit the last 16. I'm wondering if England will be so fatigued after a long draining EPL season without a real break to do well. 

Yes group stage will be like warm up and friendly games since all the good teams will advance and only the 2nd & 3rd tiers will be fighting for a round 32 spot. But I believe with the direct elimination from round 32, this is when the tournament actually begins as with only 1 bad or unlucky game, then you are out!

4 hours ago, bbb753 said:

Are you asking about the atmosphere in North America, Europe or Thailand? 

I mean the atmosphere in Pattaya. I am planning a 6 weeks trip in SEA in June/July.

33 minutes ago, panico said:

I mean the atmosphere in Pattaya. I am planning a 6 weeks trip in SEA in June/July.

I was there during part of the 2022 World Cup. All the bars will have the matches on of course. I remember watching the end of the Argentina-Saudi match in one. That was fun! The Central Marina had a big screen and fan zone set up. Wasn't crowded and tables all around. 

It honestly was okay. Nothing special. Like, Pattaya wasn't "consumed" by the World Cup. This was during high season and more conducive times (evenings and early mornings).

Pattaya match times in 2026 would be ranging from midnight to Noon local, and it's low season, so, I wouldn't have too high of hopes. 

Curious, what you guys expect from the Netherlands...
 

Gakpo (Liverpool)
Memphis (Corinthians)
Malen (Roma)
Brobbey (Sunderland)
Lang (Galatasaray)
Weghorst (Ajax)
--------------
Reijnders (Man City)
De Jong (Barcelona)
Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Xavi (Tottenham)
Schouten (PSV)
Koopmeiners (Juventus)
Smit (AZ)
Timber (Marseille)
Taylor (Lazio)
--------------
Van de Ven (Tottenham)
Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Timber (Arsenal)
Dumfries (Inter)
Van Hecke (Brighton)
Frimpong (Liverpool)
De Ligt (Man United)
Ake (Man City)
--------------
Verbruggen (Brighton)
Roefs (Sunderland)
Flekken (Leverkusen)

Everyone healthy it's going to the semi-finals and with a bit of luck to final/even winning it imo.
 

Edited March 26Mar 26 by Magic040

On 25/03/2026 at 21:50, Magic040 said:

Curious, what you guys expect from the Netherlands...
 

Gakpo (Liverpool)
Memphis (Corinthians)
Malen (Roma)
Brobbey (Sunderland)
Lang (Galatasaray)
Weghorst (Ajax)
--------------
Reijnders (Man City)
De Jong (Barcelona)
Gravenberch (Liverpool)
Xavi (Tottenham)
Schouten (PSV)
Koopmeiners (Juventus)
Smit (AZ)
Timber (Marseille)
Taylor (Lazio)
--------------
Van de Ven (Tottenham)
Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Timber (Arsenal)
Dumfries (Inter)
Van Hecke (Brighton)
Frimpong (Liverpool)
De Ligt (Man United)
Ake (Man City)
--------------
Verbruggen (Brighton)
Roefs (Sunderland)
Flekken (Leverkusen)

Everyone healthy it's going to the semi-finals and with a bit of luck to final/even winning it imo.
 

I would say quarter finals at a minimum. Semis or the final isn't out of the realm of possibility. It'll depend a lot on the draw (like it always does).

We're a little over 2 months out. Is anyone planning on going to any games?

On 08/12/2025 at 16:07, jaynewcastle said:

Just far too many teams & pointless games for me

 

 

The group stage is just like the qualifying stage 20 years ago. Very few games of any interest and most results foregone conclusions. 
At the end of the day the traditional big boys will fill the quarter final slots and it’ll start to be competitive. 

Edited April 26Apr 26 by Geordie59

3 hours ago, BillG said:

We're a little over 2 months out. Is anyone planning on going to any games?

At the prices for tickets no way if go even if I lived right beside the stadium. 

5 hours ago, Geordie59 said:

The group stage is just like the qualifying stage 20 years ago. Very few games of any interest and most results foregone conclusions. 
At the end of the day the traditional big boys will fill the quarter final slots and it’ll start to be competitive. 

I can see that. I'm not sold on the 48 team field. One one hand, it's great to see countries that haven't qualified in a really long time make it, but I worry about the quality of the group stage and round of 32 games. 

5 hours ago, Geordie59 said:

At the prices for tickets no way if go even if I lived right beside the stadium. 

I was extremely fortunate and got tickets for a game through one of the lotteries and that felt expensive. What tickets are going for now is absolutely insane. 

14 hours ago, BillG said:

We're a little over 2 months out. Is anyone planning on going to any games?

I went to five games in three different cities last time the WC was here in 1994. This time around I’m ’fuck FIFA’.

The Draw and the current odds - Big fan of FIFA, do you have a favourite....is your choice with your heart or your smarts.

 

  

The US at +6000 seems a high (or maybe it's low). I feel like a lot of Americans are betting with their heart and not their head. As much as it pains me to say it, their odds should be worse than Mexico. 

 

I would take England at +650. I guess it's coming home.

Edited April 26Apr 26 by BillG

32 minutes ago, BillG said:

The US at +6000 seems a high (or maybe it's low). I feel like a lot of Americans are betting with their heart and not their head. As much as it pains me to say it, their odds should be worse than Mexico. 

 

I would take England at +650. I guess it's coming home.

I agree, the odds will shift constantly moving closer to the first game June 11....the odds should be pretty set......right now lining up the groups and catching a few great odds so will lay down 10....save the serious choices after reviewing the teams micro. 

England +650 is a good, reach the semi's is a VERY realistic +175...... count me in on that.

@ThaiEnquirer
PM vows World Cup access as Thailand still lacks broadcast deal

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged that Thais will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026, even though Thailand has yet to secure broadcasting rights.

Speaking at Government House on May 5, Anutin said his administration would ensure access to the tournament, as in previous years, but did not specify how this would be achieved.

Thailand remains in negotiations with FIFA, with a private company reportedly working with partners to secure the rights. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has last year removed the World Cup from its “Must Have” list, meaning there is no requirement for free-to-air broadcast and access will depend largely on private-sector acquisition.

Seems the Thai government have approved paying 1,3 billion baht for the World Cup this summer. It will be shown live on free TV. 

 

Does anyone have a ready-made Excel file of the games according to Thai time?

The Thai government has failed to reach an agreement on the 2026 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights, according to a National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission source. Negotiations based on a previous 600-million-baht budget were unsuccessful due to high costs.

Officials stated the quoted rights fee exceeds economic viability, with time zone differences posing commercial challenges. Matches will air early in the morning in Thailand, reducing advertising appeal and discouraging private sector investment.

The government is currently assessing the financial feasibility of using public funds for the acquisition. A final decision will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration.