Canadian Women’s Soccer Team to Compete in FIFA Series 2026

The Canadian women’s national soccer team is set to play three international matches in Brazil during April 2026 as part of the expanded FIFA Series. This tournament will feature a total of 48 teams, comprising 36 men’s and 12 women’s squads, divided into 12 groups of four. The Canadian team, currently ranked 10th in the world, will compete against 6th-ranked Brazil, 21st-ranked South Korea, and 64th-ranked Zambia.

These matches will mark the only participation for Canada in the FIFA Series, which aims to give national teams opportunities for cross-confederation competition without adding to the international match calendar. The series is designed to encourage technical growth and organizational development while promoting global exchange among football nations.

Exciting Matches and Historical Context

Canada’s head coach, Casey Stoney, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming challenges, stating, “This is an exciting opportunity to test ourselves against three quality opponents with contrasting styles.” Stoney emphasized the importance of playing in a country with a robust football culture, highlighting that experiences like these are essential for raising standards and pursuing team goals.

Historically, Canada has faced Brazil 32 times, holding a record of 11 wins, 11 draws, and 10 losses. Notably, three of those draws have resulted in penalty shootout victories for Canada. The last encounter with Brazil took place in April 2024 during the SheBelieves Cup in Atlanta, where Canada emerged victorious.

Against South Korea, Canada boasts a strong record of 9 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, with a commanding win of 5-1 in their last meeting in December 2024 in Spain. In contrast, Canada has never played against Zambia, making this match an intriguing first encounter.

FIFA Series and Future Competitions

The FIFA governing body promotes the series as an opportunity for national teams to engage in high-level competition while fostering development across the sport. The series will also see women’s groups hosted in Ivory Coast and Thailand, with the full competition schedule expected to be announced soon. Matches during the FIFA Series will occur during international match windows in March and April.

For the men’s side, countries such as Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, and New Zealand will also host various team groups, with Rwanda staging two pools. The men’s competition includes teams like No. 27 Australia and No. 85 New Zealand.

As the Canadian women prepare for the FIFA Series, they will also participate in the SheBelieves Cup, opening with a match against No. 20 Colombia on March 1, 2026, in Nashville, followed by encounters against No. 2 U.S. and No. 30 Argentina. The team is looking to bounce back after a challenging end to 2025, where they faced a five-game losing streak and a lengthy goal drought.

As the 2026 FIFA Series approaches, the Canadian women’s national team aims to leverage these matches to enhance their performance and prepare for upcoming international competitions.