During its first day meeting in Zurich FIFA Executive Committee approved the kick-off time of FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia and FIFA Confederations Cup 2017   matches.

The opening match of each tournament, as well as the final match of FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, will be kicked-off at 18:00 (Moscow time).

Taking into consideration time zones difference in Russia, FIFA ExCo made amendments into the match fixture, and swapped the venues between Kaliningrad and Ekaterinburg for the following matches: 21 and 26, 32 and 36, 44 and 45.

The kick-off time of matches in Russia is planned within the frames between 13:00 and 22.00 (Moscow time), which gives a large opportunity to show matches in prime time all over the world.

The next step in fixture updates will be approval of KOT for each match. Local time and average temperature will be taken into account. Updated version of the fixtures is to be approved at FIFA World Cup 2018 Organizing Committee in March 2016.

The final match schedules, which will include the participating teams, will be unveiled after the FIFA Confederations Cup Draw, in November 2016, and after the FIFA World Cup Final Draw, in December 2017. 

The kick-off times of both competitions using Moscow’s time zones*, are as follows,

2018™ FIFA World Cup Russia  - 14 June to 15 July

Opening match: 18.00
16 June: 13.00, 16.00, 19.00, 22.00
Group stage matches for the days with three matches: 15.00, 18.00, 21.00
Last round of group stage matches with simultaneous kick-offs, Round of 16 and Quarter-finals: 17.00, 21.00
Semi-finals: 21.00
Match for third place: 17.00
Final: 18.00
 

FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017 - 17 June to 2 July

Opening Match: 18.00
First two rounds of group stage matches: 18.00, 21.00
Last round of group stage matches: 18.00
Semi-finals: 21.00
Match for third place: 15.00
Final: 21.00