FIFA has lined up a packed global football calendar for 2026, headlined by the biggest edition of the FIFA World Cup ever staged.
The year will also feature the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, three major youth tournaments, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and extensive qualification matches for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
Together, these events underline FIFA’s push for expansion, inclusivity and year-round global engagement across men’s, women’s and youth football.
Dates: 11 June – 19 July
Hosts: Canada, Mexico and the USA
The centrepiece of FIFA’s 2026 calendar is the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be the largest in the tournament’s history. For the first time, 48 teams will compete, marking a major expansion from the traditional 32-team format. With 42 teams already qualified, attention now turns to the final six places to be decided through the FIFA Play-Off Tournament and European play-offs scheduled for March.
Preparations are already well advanced, with the group stage draw completed in December and the full match schedule confirmed. Mexico will host the opening match on 11 June, welcoming South Africa to the Mexico City Stadium.
The fixture is a reverse repeat of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, when South Africa hosted Mexico. Matches will be spread across multiple cities in the three host nations, reflecting the scale and ambition of the expanded tournament.
Qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 is another major focus in 2026. Teams from CONMEBOL and the OFC have already begun their qualifying campaigns, with nations from the AFC, Concacaf, CAF and UEFA set to join throughout the year.
A total of 31 qualification places are available, in addition to the host nation.
The qualifying process will span several continents and competition formats, ensuring broad global representation. These matches will also serve as a key development platform for emerging women’s teams ahead of the 2027 finals in Brazil.
Dates: 28 January – 1 February
Host city: London, England
The inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup will make its debut in early 2026, bringing together the reigning continental champions to determine the world’s top women’s club side. UEFA Women’s Champions League winners Arsenal (England), Concacaf champions Gotham FC (United States) and CONMEBOL champions Corinthians (Brazil) have already secured their places.
They will be joined by ASFAR (Morocco), who qualified after defeating Wuhan Jiangda (China) in December 2025. The tournament will conclude in London and is expected to mark a significant milestone in the globalisation of women’s club football.
Dates: 5 September – 27 September
Host nation: Poland
Poland will host the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time, welcoming 24 teams from all six confederations. The tournament will be the 12th edition of the biennial competition and will showcase the next generation of elite women’s footballers.
Korea DPR enter the tournament as defending champions after winning their third title at Colombia 2024. Their success placed them level with Germany and the USA as the most successful nations in the history of the competition.
Dates: TBC
Host nation: Morocco
Morocco will again host the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup as part of its hosting rights for the annual tournament from 2025 to 2029. The 2026 edition will be the 10th in the competition’s history and will feature the world’s best young women’s teams.
Korea DPR are the reigning champions after defeating the Netherlands 3-0 at the Olympic Stadium of Rabat in the previous final. That victory marked their second successive title and fourth overall in the tournament.
Dates: TBC
Host nation: Qatar
The FIFA U-17 World Cup returns to Qatar as part of the country’s role as host from 2025 to 2029. The tournament now features 48 teams and is staged annually, producing a total of 104 matches.
Portugal are the defending champions after claiming their first title with a 1-0 win over Austria at Khalifa International Stadium in the previous final. The competition continues to serve as a key pathway for young players transitioning to senior international football.
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup will also feature in 2026, continuing its annual format that brings together champions from all six confederations. The competition begins with teams contesting confederation-based titles, including the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup, before progressing to the final stages.
Paris Saint-Germain are the reigning champions after defeating CR Flamengo in the 2025 final. The tournament provides clubs from different continents with regular competitive exposure on a global stage.
(FIFA.com)
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