FIFA has revealed the lineup for its expanded FIFA Series 2026, featuring 48 national teams in 12 groups across men's and women's competitions. The tournaments, set for March and April, will include teams from all six confederations and serve as preparation for major events like the World Cup. Matches will be broadcast globally to boost visibility for participating nations.
FIFA confirmed on January 19, 2026, the participants and group compositions for the FIFA Series 2026, an initiative expanding to 48 teams—nearly a quarter of FIFA's 211 member associations. The series comprises nine men's groups and three women's groups, hosted across multiple countries during international match windows in March and April.
The men's groups include:
- Australia (host): Australia, Cameroon, China, Curaçao
- Azerbaijan (host): Azerbaijan, Oman, Sierra Leone, Saint Lucia
- Indonesia (host): Bulgaria, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Kazakhstan (host): Comoros, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Namibia
- New Zealand (host): Cape Verde, Chile, Finland, New Zealand
- Puerto Rico (host): American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands
- Rwanda Group A: Estonia, Grenada, Kenya, Rwanda (host)
- Rwanda Group B: Aruba, Liechtenstein, Macau, Tanzania
- Uzbekistan (host): Gabon, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan, Venezuela
Five men's teams—Australia, Cape Verde, Curaçao, New Zealand, and Uzbekistan—have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding competitive depth.
The women's groups are:
- Brazil (host): Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Zambia
- Ivory Coast (host): Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Pakistan, Turks and Caicos Islands
- Thailand (host): DR Congo, Nepal, an OFC team, Thailand
Hosted in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Thailand, the women's competition ensures representation from all confederations. The series aims to foster development through meaningful matchups, event operations experience, and referee training, mirroring major tournaments. All matches will be broadcast worldwide.
Football Australia noted the event as warm-up games ahead of the World Cup, with the Socceroos facing two of Cameroon, China, or Curaçao. In Rwanda, scheduled for March 23-31, hosts Rwanda welcome Kenya and others in Group A, while Tanzania joins Group B. Kenya's federation president, Hussein Mohammed Rashid, praised the opportunity: “It is exactly the kind of exposure and competition our national team needs.” Match schedules will follow soon.
