- To ensure decisive outcomes, any match tied at the end of regulation time will proceed directly to a penalty shoot-out
- All fixtures will count as official international friendlies and will be broadcast worldwide, offering participating teams
- The governing body noted that the 2026 edition builds on the success of the pilot tournament held in 2024
FIFA has unveiled the complete fixture list for the expanded FIFA Series 2026™, an international friendly competition set to feature 48 national teams drawn from all six confederations.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the schedule, published on FIFA’s official website on Monday, covers matches slated for the March and April 2026 international window.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Troops Intercept Suspected Gun Runner, Seize 969 Rounds of Ammunition in Taraba
- Lagos Receives $1m Japanese Support to Prevent Cholera Outbreak
- Eniola Badmus: Mindset Transformation Is Secret To My 80kg Weight Loss Success
The tournament will consist of 12 groups of four teams each, nine men’s groups and three women’s groups, with games hosted by 11 FIFA Member Associations. Rwanda will host two groups, while other host nations include Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
All fixtures will count as official international friendlies and will be broadcast worldwide, offering participating teams, particularly those with limited cross-confederation exposure, valuable competitive opportunities.
FIFA explained that each host association selected its preferred group format, either staging semi-finals followed by a final or organising a series of predetermined matches. Regardless of format, each group will produce a single winner.
To ensure decisive outcomes, any match tied at the end of regulation time will proceed directly to a penalty shoot-out, with no extra time played.
The governing body noted that the 2026 edition builds on the success of the pilot tournament held in 2024 and follows the confirmation of host nations and group line-ups in January 2026.
According to FIFA, the initiative aligns with its broader objective of fostering balanced global football development by creating meaningful competition beyond flagship events such as the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™.
The organisation said the FIFA Series™ is designed to strengthen sporting ties between confederations while increasing international visibility for emerging football nations.
FURTHER READING
