Official Match Schedule for “FIFA Series 2026” Released

FIFA has unveiled the official match schedule for the FIFA Series 2026™, confirming fixtures for the expanded international friendly tournament set to take place during the March and April 2026 international match window.

The release marks another key milestone in the growth of the FIFA Series™, an initiative approved by the FIFA Council in December 2022 as part of FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: 2023–2027. The programme is designed to promote the development of men’s and women’s national teams by facilitating competitive matches between countries from different confederations that rarely meet on the international stage.

Building on the success of its pilot edition in 2024, the 2026 tournament will feature 48 national teams — men’s and women’s combined — representing nearly a quarter of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations. The teams will compete in 12 groups of four, hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations across multiple regions. Rwanda will stage two of the groups.

Nine groups will involve men’s national teams, while three groups will feature women’s national teams. All six FIFA confederations will be represented, underscoring the global reach of the initiative.

According to FIFA, the Series aims to bring together teams with varied competitive profiles, ranging from established international sides to emerging football nations. The competition is structured to provide meaningful international exposure while enhancing technical, tactical and administrative capacity across federations.

Although the matches are classified as international friendlies, Participating Member Associations have agreed on flexible competition formats. Some groups will adopt a semi-final and final structure, while others will stage pre-arranged fixtures. In all cases, drawn matches will proceed directly to penalty shoot-outs without extra time, ensuring a decisive outcome. Each group will produce a winner, regardless of format.

FIFA has endorsed this participant-led approach, noting that it increases the competitive intensity of the fixtures while maintaining flexibility for host associations.

All matches in the FIFA Series 2026™ will be broadcast globally, guaranteeing worldwide access and heightened visibility for participating teams and their supporters.

With the publication of the full schedule, participating federations, stakeholders and fans now have clarity on the upcoming fixtures as preparations intensify for the March and April international window.