FIFA and the confederations have published a packed Women’s Football 2026 Schedule that mixes continental championships, youth World Cups and a new club competition. The All Women’s Football calendar around revised international windows is intended to improve player release and planning.
The year will be decisive in setting the road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup cycle, with several marquee events and qualification windows spread across the first three quarters of the year.
Here’s the updated FIFA Women’s International Match Calendar for 2026, featuring key FIFA-sanctioned international windows, major tournaments, top FIFA Women’s ranking teams matches and notable fixtures across all confederations.
What’s new for the 2026 Women’s football tournaments Schedule
- FIFA’s global calendar outlines international release windows and blocked competition periods to help national teams, confederations, and clubs plan their year. These windows balance qualifiers, youth tournaments and major continental finals.
- Women’s Champions Cup (new club event): FIFA has confirmed a short-format women’s club competition for 2026 — a replacement plan after the original Women’s Club World Cup launch was postponed. The Champions Cup will provide continental champions with a fresh global stage at the start of the year.
- Continental showpieces and qualifiers: The calendar includes major continental finals and qualification periods — for example, the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup (hosted across Australian venues, with the final scheduled in Sydney), which also doubles as part ofthe qualification and seeding for future global events.
Global Women’s Football Calendar 2026 – Key Dates & Tournaments
As part of the updated Women’s Football 2026 calendar, several top national teams will be in action across FIFA international windows and major tournaments.
Defending world champions Spain Women continue to set the benchmark in Europe, while the USA Women remain a global powerhouse as preparations build toward the next World Cup cycle.
Traditional contenders such as England Women, Germany Women, and France Women headline European competitions, alongside strong programs like Canada Women, Brazil Women, Japan Women, and Australia Women across other confederations.
These teams will feature prominently throughout 2026, making them key focus points for fixtures, rankings, and international tournament storylines.
The Women’s Football 2026 Schedule features a packed international fixtures, with club competitions, continental qualifiers, and major FIFA tournaments shaping the road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
January 2026
- 28 January: Semi-final matches of the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026 take place, marking the start of the new global women’s club competition.
- Arsenal vs AS FAR – 6-0
- Corinthians vs Gotham FC – 6-0
February 2026
- 1 February: The FIFA Women’s Champions Cup concludes with the final and the third-place play-off.
- AS FAR vs Gotham FC – Third Place
- Arsenal vs Corinthians – Final
- 4–28 February: South America hosts the CONMEBOL U-20 Women’s Championship, serving as a qualification pathway to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2027.
- 6–8 February: CAF U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers (third round, first-leg matches).
- 11 February: UEFA Women’s Champions League Knockout Playoffs 2026.
- 12–14 February: CAF U-20 qualifiers continue with second-leg fixtures.
- 21 February: Women’s FA Cup – 5th Round
- 27 February: OFC begins round two of Women’s World Cup 2027 qualification.
- 27 February–7 March: Second week of Concacaf Women’s Championship qualifiers.
March 2026
- 1–21 March: AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which also functions as part of Women’s World Cup 2027 qualification.
- 4 March: SheBelieves Cup Group Stage
- Early March: OFC and UEFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers resume, alongside European matchdays one and two.
- 17 March–3 April: CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are held.
April 2026
- 1–18 April: AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2026.
- 15 April: USWNT vs Japan – Internationals Women Friendly
- 18 April: USWNT vs Japan – Internationals Women Friendly
- 18 April: Concacaf qualification week
- 18 April: European Women’s World Cup qualification matchdays.
- Throughout April: CONMEBOL Women’s Nations League continues as part of World Cup qualification, alongside OFC round-three matches.
May 2026
- 1–3 May: CAF U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, fourth round (first legs).
- 2 May: UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-finals
- 8–10 May: Second-leg matches complete the African U-20 qualification phase.
June 2026
- Early June: UEFA and CONMEBOL Women’s World Cup qualification fixtures continue with additional matchdays.
September 2026
- 5–27 September: FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 takes place.
October 2026
- 7–13 October: European Women’s World Cup 2027 qualification play-offs, first round.
- TBC: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2026 (dates yet to be confirmed).
November–December 2026
- 24 November–5 December: Concacaf Women’s Championship, part of World Cup 2027 qualification.
- 26 November–5 December: UEFA Women’s World Cup qualification play-offs, second round.
Major tournaments & competitions to follow in the 2026 Schedule
- Women’s Champions Cup (FIFA / new club event) — a short global club competition scheduled early in the year to showcase continental champions and create winter broadcast interest. This is a key new entry in the club calendar after the postponement of the full Women’s Club World Cup.
- AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 — held in Australia, with the final in Sydney; the tournament is vital for Asian qualification pathways and regional prestige.
- FIFA youth tournaments — age-group World Cups and U-20/U-17 competitions remain crucial development platforms and are scheduled across the year (check FIFA releases for exact dates).
- Continental championships & qualifiers (CAF WAFCON, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF qualifiers, UEFA events) — each confederation stages qualifiers or finals that feed into regional standings and the 2027 World Cup qualification process.
What the Women’s Football 2026 Schedule calendar means for players and clubs
- Greater concentration of high-profile fixtures: The new layout compresses some big events into specific windows and introduces a short club showpiece — this helps global visibility but raises concerns about fixture congestion.
- Player release and recovery: FIFA’s updated international match calendar attempts to standardise release periods. Clubs and national teams must coordinate closely to manage load and recovery, especially for players involved in both continental club competitions and national duty.
For fans: how to follow and plan
- Bookmark official pages: Follow FIFA and each confederation’s tournament pages for confirmed match dates and ticket info.
- Plan travel around windows: If you plan to attend continental finals or the new club event, lock travel early — many host cities will have high demand.
- Watch for broadcast deals: Broadcasters are finalising rights for the new competitions; expect regional packages and streaming options.
Women’s Football 2026 Schedule Calendar aims
2026 is a transitional year for Women’s football: FIFA’s global Women’s Football 2026 Schedule calendar aims to give structure to a rapidly growing sport while introducing new club-level exposure through the Women’s Champions Cup.
For national teams, confederations and clubs, the calendar requires sharper planning and closer coordination — and for fans, it delivers more competitive football and fresh viewing opportunities across the globe. For the most accurate, up-to-date schedules and ticket information, rely on official FIFA and confederation announcements.
