- FIFA has officially unveiled the full match schedule for the FIFA Series 2026™
- The tournament will feature 48 national teams from all six confederations
- A total of 12 groups will compete, nine men’s groups and three women’s groups
- Participating Member Associations were allowed to select their preferred competition format within each group
FIFA has officially published the full fixture list for the FIFA Series 2026™, marking an expanded edition of its international friendly tournament that will feature 48 national teams drawn from all six confederations.
The schedule, released on the federation’s website on Monday, February 23, confirms that matches will take place during the March and April 2026 international windows.
A total of 12 groups, comprising nine men’s groups and three women’s groups, will compete in the tournament. The groups will be hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations, with Rwanda staging two groups.
Other host nations include Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
All fixtures will be recognised as official international friendlies and broadcast globally, ensuring worldwide access for fans.
The competition is also expected to offer valuable exposure to participating teams, especially nations that rarely face opponents from other confederations.
According to FIFA, each participating Member Association selected its preferred competition format within its group. The options include either a semi-final and final structure or a schedule of pre-arranged matches. Regardless of the format, one team will ultimately emerge as the group winner.
In matches that end level after regulation time, games will proceed straight to a penalty shoot-out, with no extra time played, guaranteeing a clear and competitive conclusion.
FIFA noted that the 2026 edition builds on the success of the pilot tournament staged in 2024 and follows the confirmation of hosts and group allocations in January 2026.
The initiative forms part of the organisation’s wider plan to foster balanced growth in global football by creating meaningful competitive opportunities beyond flagship competitions such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™.
“The FIFA Series™ continues to deliver on our commitment to inclusive football development.
“By bringing teams from different confederations together in competitive settings, we are strengthening the sporting and cultural fabric of the game while giving emerging nations greater visibility on the international stage,” FIFA said in its announcement.
The complete match schedule, including specific dates, venues and kick-off times, has been made available on FIFA’s official platforms.