[Monterrey] Japan Match Kicks Off at "10 PM Local Time" - The Latest Kickoff of the Tournament

Monterrey, Mexico, where Japan will play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This Japan vs Tunisia match is no ordinary group stage game. From its kickoff time to its historic significance, it is set to be one of the most unique nights of the entire tournament.

Drawing from firsthand experience at six previous World Cups including South Africa and Brazil, here are the key rules for safely navigating this unusually late match.

1. Why does it start at 10 PM? (TV broadcast slots and the time zone trap)

The first surprise is the10:00 PM (22:00) local time kickoff. Not quite midnight, but extremely late for a football match and the only game among all 104 matches that kicks off at 10 PM local time. Why? It comes down to the strict TV broadcast schedule unique to the World CupandMexico's time zone situation.

1) Matches are spaced 3 hours apart and never overlap World Cup group stage days with 4 matches are carefully scheduled so fans worldwide can watch every game live. Matches never overlap and are arranged in a clean 3-hour relay format to suit TV broadcasts.

• Standard pattern (example): Match 1 at 12:00 -> Match 2 at 15:00 -> Match 3 at 18:00 -> Match 4 at 21:00

2) Mexico does not observe Daylight Saving Time Normally the last match of the day starts at 21:00 (9 PM). But here is where Mexico not having Daylight Saving Timecomes into play. While other countries adjust their clocks for DST, Mexico stays put. So the 4th match slot, when converted to local time, shifts an hour later and becomesa 22:00 (10 PM) local start time.

This is the only match out of all 104 in this tournament with a 10 PM local kickoff.

2. A historic moment! This is the 1,000th match in World Cup history

This Japan vs Tunisia match carries another milestone. Since the first World Cup in 1930, this will be the 1,000th match in tournament history.

• The only 10 PM local kickoff among all 104 matches
• The 1,000th match in World Cup history

Being there live for a match with all these elements will be a lifetime bragging right.

3. Kickoff is at night, but full time is past midnight

While 22:00 is still a time when people are out and about, the real concern is when the match ends.

A match takes about 2 hours including halftime and added time. That meansthe final whistle blows around midnight. Leaving the stadium and starting to move will be around12:30 AM to 1:00 AMdeep in the middle of the night.

The most important question here is: how do you get back?

Our verdict: Forget taxis and Uber, take the metro!

• Taxi/Uber (Not recommended): Traffic jams persist even late at night. Road closures and surge pricing mean ride-hailing apps either won't find you a car or will charge several times the normal fare.
• Metro (Highly recommended): This is the only right answer.

[Use Line 1 (Yellow Line)] Monterrey is home to CF Monterrey (the team Sergio Ramos, Real Madrid legend, once played for). According to their supporter forums, the metro is the only option for getting home. The Monterrey metro (Metrorrey) has several lines, but only Line 1 goes to the stadium.

• Line color: Yellow is the marker.
• Direction: The stadium is directly connected to the terminus station at the eastern end of the line: Exposicion station.
• Service: This line runs east-west through the city center (including Cuauhtemoc station) and operates reliably even late at night.

4. Is it safe? (Based on experience from 6 previous World Cups)

Some may worry that walking around Mexico late at night sounds dangerous. However, having been to World Cups in countries with security concerns like South Africa and Brazil, I can say with confidence:

"During a World Cup, the area around the stadium becomes a completely different world from normal."

During a World Cup, especially on match days, police and even military-level security create a safety bubble around the venue. Even at hours you would normally avoid, as long as you walk the main routes with tens of thousands of supporters and stay within sight of security, the risk of trouble is extremely low.

[Rules for late-night travel]

1. No solo wandering: Always follow the crowd heading to the station..
2. No side streets: Do not wander into back alleys or empty areas out of curiosity.
3. Go straight back: Once at the station, head directly to your hotel. If it is near the Fan Festa venue (like Tru by Hilton), you are in a safe zone once you get there.

Summary

A 10 PM kickoff and the 1,000th World Cup match make for a truly special night. It starts with excitement but ends well past midnight. Trust the world-class security that comes with a global event of this scale,and rely onthe Yellow Line metro (Line 1)andand move with the crowd, you have nothing to worry about.

Enjoy the Monterrey night as a witness to history!