Rwanda is among eight countries confirmed by world football governing body, FIFA, to host the 2026 FIFA Series, set to take place during the international match window in March and April. The tournament will offer national teams from different continents a unique platform to compete and connect beyond their traditional confederation boundaries. Other countries set to host FIFA Series 2026 include Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Puerto Rico and Uzbekistan. Discussions are also advancing with other FIFA Member Associations which may join as additional host nations in the coming months. But what is FIFA Series? The FIFA Series is a new football programme created by FIFA to give national teams more opportunities to play international matches, especially teams that rarely face opponents from other continents. Approved by the FIFA Council in December 2022, the FIFA Series also allows nations that are building their footballing footprint to experience international competition under conditions like those of major tournaments, thereby promoting both technical and organisational development. The pilot edition took place in March 2024 in Egypt. Teams were grouped into small tournaments of four countries and played friendly matches, but at a competitive level. Building on the success of the 2024 edition, the FIFA Series 2026 marks the first full-scale implementation of this initiative, featuring more Participating Member Associations (PMAs), more hosts and, for the first time, a dedicated women’s iteration. What is the format? The FIFA Series is not a traditional World Cup style competition. Instead, it takes the form of mini-friendly tournaments involving national teams from all six FIFA confederations (Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America, Concacaf). Each team plays a maximum of two matches. There are no quarter-finals, semi-finals or finals. At the end, points are counted as they would be in a mini-championship. Croatia won the first edition after beating hosts Egypt 4-2. Building on the success of the 2024 edition, the FIFA Series 2026 marks the first full-scale implementation of this initiative, featuring more Participating Member Associations, more hosts and, for the first time, a dedicated women’s iteration. Why is the FIFA Series important? The FIFA Series helps smaller football nations gain more exposition, discover new playing styles, give players and coaches valuable experience and strengthen football cooperation between countries. It aims to make international football more balanced and global. The tournament does not offer prize money like the World Cup. Its main goals are development, experience, and visibility. Teams do not receive direct financial rewards, but they benefit from experience, FIFA ranking points and media attention. Who should participate? The FIFA Series is open to all FIFA affiliated members.
