FIFA has confirmed the hosts and group composition for the expanded FIFA Series 2026™, featuring 48 national teams competing in 12 groups during the international match windows in March and April. The tournament includes 9 men’s groups and 3 women’s groups, with all six FIFA confederations represented.
Men’s Groups: The men’s competition will be hosted across Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, and Uzbekistan. The groups are as follows:
Australia (host): Australia, Cameroon, China PR, Curaçao
Azerbaijan (host): Azerbaijan, Oman, Sierra Leone, St Lucia
Indonesia (host): Indonesia, Bulgaria, Solomon Islands, St Kitts and Nevis
Kazakhstan (host): Kazakhstan, Comoros, Kuwait, Namibia
New Zealand (host): New Zealand, Cabo Verde, Chile, Finland
Puerto Rico (host): Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, US Virgin Islands
Rwanda Group A (host): Rwanda, Estonia, Grenada, Kenya
Rwanda Group B (host): Rwanda, Aruba, Liechtenstein, Macau, Tanzania
Uzbekistan (host): Uzbekistan, Gabon, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela
Women’s Groups: The women’s events will be hosted in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Thailand:
Brazil (host): Brazil, Canada, Korea Republic, Zambia
Côte d’Ivoire (host): Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Pakistan, Turks and Caicos Islands
Thailand (host): Thailand, Nepal, Congo DR, OFC team
Five men’s teams Australia, Cabo Verde, Curaçao, New Zealand, and Uzbekistan have also qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
All matches will be broadcast globally, providing national teams and fans worldwide with access to the expanded FIFA Series 2026™. The initiative also supports hosting and participating associations with operational planning, referee development, and competition organization experience.
The FIFA Series 2026 aligns with FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game 2023–2027, offering opportunities for cross-confederation competition, technical development, and global exchange for national teams without adding fixtures to the international calendar.
