fifa fantasy managers must lock their Round 2 teams by 17:00 BST on Thursday 18 June 2026, the same moment Czechia v South Africa begins. That leaves no cushion between the opening match of the round and the deadline, so transfers and boosters have to be set before the first whistle if managers want full control.
Czechia Starts Round 2
Czechia v South Africa is the first match of Round 2 and it kicks off at 17:00 BST on Thursday 18 June. Managers who want to wait for the curtain-raiser teamsheets can still do that, but only before the deadline passes.
The fixture matters because it opens the second round of group games and gives fantasy players one last look at lineups before the transfer window closes. Manual substitutions and captaincy changes remain available after the deadline, so the pressure sits more on transfers and boosters than on every in-game adjustment.
Luis Diaz And Colombia
Luis Diaz could be selected for Colombia’s Round 2 match against DR Congo. Colombia also has a Round 1 fixture against Uzbekistan at 3am BST on Thursday 18 June, which comes 14 hours before the Round 2 deadline.
That schedule gives managers a short window to judge how Diaz and other options perform before deciding whether to keep them for the next round. It also means the Round 1 result against Uzbekistan may arrive deep into the same day that Round 2 decisions have to be finished.
Wednesday 8 July
There are no rest days until Wednesday 8 July, so the Round 2 deadline sits inside a packed stretch rather than a break in the tournament. For managers, the practical task is simple: finish the Round 2 team before 17:00 BST on Thursday 18 June, then use the remaining in-game flexibility on substitutions and captaincy changes after the deadline has passed.
