Kenya added as host for women’s friendlies in updated FIFA Series 2026 schedule

The FIFA Series 2026 has undergone a slight reshuffle, with Kenya now introduced as a new host for an expanded women’s competition, further enriching the global football showcase.

The latest revision sees the women’s tournament grow to sixteen teams following the inclusion of Australia, India, Malawi and hosts Kenya.

This expansion introduces a fourth group, set to be staged at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, where Kenya’s Harambee Starlets will compete against their newly confirmed opponents.

A new women’s group and a new host. 🙌

Australia, India, Malawi and hosts Kenya bring the FIFA Series 2026™ women’s line-up to 16 participating teams.

— FIFA (@FIFAcom) March 24, 2026

The group fixtures will kick off with Australia facing Malawi, before Kenya takes on India, with classification matches and the final scheduled a few days later.

Across the broader competition, the FIFA Series will feature 50 national teams, men and women combined, drawn from all six confederations.

A total of 53 matches will be played, with the men’s games running from 25th to 31st March, followed by the women’s fixtures between 9 and 18 April.

The tournament continues to offer a valuable platform for nations to test themselves against diverse international opposition.

Elsewhere in the women’s competition, the remaining groups will be hosted in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand, maintaining a strong multi-continental footprint that aligns with FIFA’s global development vision.

On the men’s side, adjustments have been made in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan following the withdrawal of Kuwait and Oman due to unforeseen circumstances.

Azerbaijan will now face St Lucia and Sierra Leone, while Kazakhstan hosts a three-team mini-group featuring Comoros and Namibia in a round-robin format.

Other host nations—including Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda and Uzbekistan will proceed with their original match schedules.

Notably, Rwanda stands out as the only host staging two groups in the men’s competition.

Beyond the fixtures, the FIFA Series remains a key initiative aimed at strengthening international football development. It brings together both established and emerging nations, offering competitive exposure while also enhancing organisational capacity for host associations through hands-on experience in tournament operations.

Among the participating teams, five men’s nations, Australia, Cape Verde, Curaçao, New Zealand and Uzbekistan have already secured qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, adding further quality to the competition.

With global broadcast coverage confirmed, the FIFA Series 2026 is set to deliver not only competitive action but also increased visibility for teams across the world stage.

FIFA Series schedule (March 25-31)