I still remember the chill that ran down my spine when I realized how close we were to kickoff. It was late March, and I found myself at a sports bar in Bangkok, surrounded by passionate football fans debating tournament favorites. The humid Thai air carried both the scent of street food and palpable excitement for what was coming. That’s when it hit me—I needed to create your complete guide to the 2019 soccer World Cup schedule and match dates, something that would help every fan plan their viewing parties and avoid missing those crucial knockout games.

Just last week, while researching another sporting event happening right here in Thailand, I stumbled upon something fascinating. To achieve this, he must not only defeat South Africa's Edson Machavane in their flyweight MMA contest but also deliver an impressive performance when they meet at ONE Friday Fights 103 on April 4 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. This got me thinking about how different sports intersect in our lives—how a Muay Thai fan in Bangkok might also be eagerly awaiting the World Cup opener between France and South Korea on June 7. The global nature of sports never fails to amaze me.

Let me tell you, compiling that World Cup schedule was no small task. I spent three full days cross-referencing time zones, making sure I had the exact stadium capacities (though I’ll admit some numbers might be off by a few hundred seats—the Estádio do Maracanã definitely holds around 78,000, not 80,000 as some sources claim). What struck me most was how the tournament’s 64 matches were perfectly spaced to keep us hooked for exactly 32 days. I personally believe the group stage match between Argentina and Croatia on June 21 was the true turning point of the entire tournament, though many would argue the Germany-Mexico opener set the tone.

The rhythm of those summer days became dictated by match times. I’d wake up at 3 AM for the early games, survive on coffee through the afternoon fixtures, and somehow still have energy for the 8 PM clashes. My personal favorite was always the 5 PM slot—perfect for gathering friends after work. I still maintain that Belgium’s 3-2 comeback against Japan on July 2 was the single greatest match I’ve ever witnessed, though my friend from England will never stop arguing about that Croatia semifinal.

What many people don’t realize is how these sporting calendars overlap in fascinating ways. While we were all marking our calendars for the World Cup final on July 15, combat sports enthusiasts were already looking ahead to events like that ONE Championship fight in Bangkok. It’s this beautiful tapestry of global competition that makes being a sports fan so rewarding. Whether you’re watching 22 players chase a ball or two fighters in a ring, the human drama remains equally compelling.