David GOMBE
The fixture schedule for 2026 FIFA Series has officially been released, confirming Kenya national team Harambee Stars’ participation in the March international window in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kenya will launch their campaign against Estonia on March 27th, at Amahoro Stadium. Harambee Stars’ second match in the mini-tournament will depend on the outcome of the other opening fixture between Rwanda and Grenada.
Under the tournament format, the winner of Match 1 will face the winner of Match 2, while the loser of Match 1 will play the loser of Match 2.
FIFA published the official fixtures for the FIFA Series 2026, marking the next major milestone in the continued expansion of the initiative designed to drive the development of men’s and women’s national teams.
https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/131bc340085e6bdc/original/FIFA-Series-2026-Match-Schedule.pdf
FIFA Series 2026 Match Schedule Building on the successful pilot edition in 2024 and following the confirmation of the hosts and the composition of the groups in January 2026, the release of the match schedule provides Participating Member Associations, stakeholders and fans with full visibility of the upcoming fixtures, which will be staged during the international match window in March and April 2026.
The FIFA Series was approved by the FIFA Council in December 2022 and is fully aligned with FIFA’s Strategic Objectives for the Global Game: Its purpose is to facilitate meaningful international friendly matches between national teams from different confederations that would not normally compete against one another, thereby supporting football development both on and off the pitch.
The 2026 edition of this initiative will feature 48 national teams representing almost a quarter of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations competing in 12 groups of four teams each. Eleven FIFA Member Associations will host the series, with Rwanda staging two groups. Nine groups will feature men’s national teams and three will involve women’s national teams, with all six confederations represented.
The FIFA Series brings together teams with a wide range of competitive profiles, from established international sides to emerging football nations, reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable global football development. All FIFA Series 2026 matches will be broadcast and made available to a global audience, increasing access for fans worldwide and enhancing visibility for participating national teams.
While all matches are international friendlies, the Participating Member Associations (PMAs) have agreed on varied competition formats either semi-finals and a final, or pre-arranged fixtures. Any match that ends in a draw will go straight to an exciting penalty shoot-out, with no extra time. In each group, regardless of format, one Member Association will emerge as group victors. FIFA has endorsed this participant-led approach, as it enhances the competitive edge of these fixtures, makes them more engaging for fans, and provides a valuable sporting opportunity for all teams involved.
The FIFA Series 2026 match schedule is now available and will serve as the definitive reference point for the upcoming edition