The World Cup's daytime games are done, and the evening is where the intrigue lives tonight. Two Group H and Group G openers headline the late window — Uruguay against Saudi Arabia, then Iran against New Zealand — giving you a back-to-back doubleheader to settle into after dinner. Here's what's on, when it kicks off, where to stream it, and why each match is worth your couch time.
The headliner: Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (6:00 PM ET, FS1)
Uruguay are one of the quietly serious teams at this tournament — a side that rarely beats itself, defends with bite, and tends to make deep runs look routine. A Group H opener against Saudi Arabia is exactly the kind of game a contender is expected to win, which is what makes it interesting: the pressure is entirely on the South Americans to start cleanly in a group that also contains Spain.
Saudi Arabia, for their part, have built a reputation as a side capable of springing the occasional shock on the biggest stage. They will sit deep, stay compact, and look to punish any sloppiness on the counter. If Uruguay are patient and clinical, this is comfortable. If they're loose, the Saudis have the legs to make them sweat. It's the first real read on whether Uruguay's group-stage ceiling matches the hype.
The nightcap: Iran vs New Zealand (9:00 PM ET, FS1)
The late game is a genuine toss-up, and that's the appeal. Iran are tournament regulars with real organization and a knack for grinding out tight results, while New Zealand arrive as one of the competition's feel-good qualifiers, riding the momentum of simply being here. Group G also features Belgium, so both of these sides know that points dropped tonight are very hard to recover.
Expect a cagey, physical match where the first goal carries enormous weight. For neutrals, it's the kind of fixture that looks modest on paper and routinely delivers drama — two teams who need the result and can't afford to gamble too early.
How to watch tonight in the US
Both evening matches are on FS1, running back-to-back, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo. Earlier in the day, Spain faced Cape Verde and Belgium met Egypt on the main FOX channel — if you missed those, the evening slate on FS1 is where the live action continues. Streaming runs through the usual FOX and Telemundo platforms tied to a cable or live-TV subscription.
- 6:00 PM ET — Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia, FS1 (Group H)
- 9:00 PM ET — Iran vs New Zealand, FS1 (Group G)
Times are Eastern; adjust for your zone. Check your local listings, as regional and Spanish-language broadcast options can vary.
Beyond soccer
If you want to flip channels at the breaks, the MLB evening slate runs alongside the soccer all night, giving you a baseball option in basically every time zone. With the NBA and NHL seasons now wrapped, the World Cup is firmly the center of gravity on the sports calendar — and tonight's doubleheader is the easiest way to ride along.
Quick predictions
Uruguay should have enough quality to see off Saudi Arabia, though a one-goal margin wouldn't surprise anyone given how they like to control rather than overwhelm. The nightcap is closer to a coin flip; a low-scoring draw or a 1-0 either way feels right for a pair of teams who'll prioritize not losing. Either way, you get live World Cup football deep into the night.
FAQ
What time does the World Cup action start tonight? The evening window opens with Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia at 6:00 PM ET, followed by Iran vs New Zealand at 9:00 PM ET.
What channel are tonight's matches on? Both evening games are on FS1, with Telemundo carrying Spanish-language coverage.
Which groups are playing tonight? Group H (Uruguay, Saudi Arabia) and Group G (Iran, New Zealand).
Where can I follow live scores? Track every goal as it happens on Scorelisto's soccer page, or head to the blog for recaps once the final whistles go.