FIFA Match Fixtures March 2026 marks one of the most important international windows in world football, featuring decisive FIFA World Cup qualification playoffs and high-profile international friendlies as teams finalize preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During this period, national teams across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia will compete in World Cup playoff matches and elite friendly fixtures, making March 2026 a must-follow month for fans worldwide.
March 2026 is a critical international football month featuring two major competitions: World Cup preparation friendlies organized as the “Road to 2026 FIFA World Cup” initiative, and UEFA European Qualifier Play-offs for final qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Below is the complete FIFA Match Fixtures March 2026, including World Cup Playoffs schedule, international friendlies, match dates, venues and kick-off times.
FIFA Match Fixtures March 2026: International Soccer Calendar
From qualification of World Cup Playoffs to blockbuster friendlies, here is the complete FIFA international match calendar for March 2026.
March 2026 is set to deliver exciting storylines — Brazil and France meeting in a historic rematch, UEFA play-off drama unfolding across four simultaneous paths, and in-depth World Cup prep as teams fine-tune their tactics ahead of June’s tournament.
UEFA World Cup Qualifier Play-offs: March 26 & 31, 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Play-offs represent the final opportunity for European teams to secure their World Cup spots. Sixteen teams compete in four separate single-elimination brackets.
World Cup Playoffs Schedule Structure
- Semi-Finals: Thursday, March 26, 2026 – 20:45 CET (Central European Time)
- Finals: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 – 20:45 CEST
Four Play-off Paths
| Path | Semi-Final 1 | Semi-Final 2 | Final Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path A (Cardiff) | Match on Mar 26 | Match on Mar 26 | Stadio Atleti Azzuri d’Italia, Bergamo, Italy – Mar 31 |
| Path B (Valencia) | Match on Mar 26 | Match on Mar 26 | Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland – Mar 31 |
| Path C (Bratislava) | Match on Mar 26 | Match on Mar 26 | Beşiktaş Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey – Mar 31 |
| Path D (Prague) | Match on Mar 26 | Match on Mar 26 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark – Mar 31 |
Format: Eight matches on March 26 (semi-finals across four paths), four matches on March 31 (finals). The four path winners advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Loser’s Matches: On March 31, the losing semi-finalists from each path will play friendly matches against each other.
FIFA World Cup Play-off Schedule
March 26, 2026
FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Playoff Tournament
- Bolivia vs Suriname – 4:30 AM – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
- New Caledonia vs Jamaica – 7:30 AM – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico
FIFA World Cup Qualifying – UEFA
- Türkiye vs Romania – 10:30 PM – Vodafone Park, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Czechia vs Republic of Ireland – 1:15 AM – Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czechia
- Denmark vs North Macedonia – 1:15 AM – Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Italy vs Northern Ireland – 1:15 AM – Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy
- Poland vs Albania – 1:15 AM – PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland
- Slovakia vs Kosovo – 1:15 AM – Národný Futbalový Štadión, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Ukraine vs Sweden – 1:15 AM – Estadi Ciutat de València, Manises, Spain
- Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1:15 AM – Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
March 27, 2026
FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Playoff Tournament
- Congo DR vs Winner Concacaf/OFC – 2:30 AM – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Iraq vs Winner Concacaf/CONMEBOL – 8:30 AM – Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
FIFA World Cup Qualifying – UEFA
- Path A Finalist 2 vs Path A Finalist 1 – TBD – TBC
- Path B Finalist 1 vs Path B Finalist 2 – TBD – TBC
- Path C Finalist 2 vs Path C Finalist 1 – TBD – TBC
- Path D Finalist 2 vs Path D Finalist 1 – TBD – TBC
International Friendlies: March 26-31, 2026
As part of the final World Cup preparations, major nations are competing in a series of international friendlies during the final international break before the tournament.
| Date | Match | Venue Location | Kick off Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26 | Brazil vs France | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA | 1:30 AM |
| Mar 26 | Georgia vs Israel | TBC | 10:30 PM |
| Mar 26 | Colombia vs Croatia | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL | 5:00 AM |
| Mar 27 | England vs Uruguay | Wembley Stadium, London | 1:15 AM |
| Mar 27 | Netherlands vs Norway | Johan Cruijff Arena, Amsterdam | 1:15 AM |
| Mar 27 | Switzerland vs Germany | St. Jakob Park, Basel, Switzerland | 1:15 AM |
March 28, 2026
| Team | Stadium | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyz Republic vs Madagascar | Mardan Stadyumu, Antalya, Türkiye | 7:30 PM |
| San Marino vs Faroe Islands | Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle, Serravalle, San Marino | 7:30 PM |
| South Korea vs Ivory Coast | Stadium MK, Milton Keynes, England | 7:30 PM |
| Senegal vs Peru | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France | 9:30 PM |
| Canada vs Iceland | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | 10:30 PM |
| Hungary vs Slovenia | Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary | 10:30 PM |
| Scotland vs Japan | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland | 10:30 PM |
| United States vs Belgium | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia | 1:00 AM |
| Haiti vs Tunisia | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | 5:30 AM |
| Mexico vs Portugal | Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico | 6:30 AM |
March 29, 2026
| Date | Team | Stadium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | Lithuania vs Georgia | Darius and Girenas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania | 6:30 PM |
| – | Armenia vs Belarus | Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia | 7:30 PM |
| – | Colombia vs France | Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland | 12:30 AM |
| – | Martinique vs El Salvador | Estadio Cibao, Santiago, Dominican Republic | 12:30 AM |
| – | Barbados vs St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Antonio Trinidad Stadium, Bonaire | 1:30 AM |
| – | British Virgin Islands vs Anguilla | Truman Bodden Sport Complex, George Town, Cayman Islands | 3:00 AM |
| – | Dominican Republic vs Cuba | Estadio Cibao, Santiago, Dominican Republic | 3:30 AM |
| – | Cayman Islands vs Bahamas | Truman Bodden Sport Complex, George Town, Cayman Islands | 5:30 AM |
| – | Bonaire vs St. Martin | Antonio Trinidad Stadium, Bonaire | 6:00 AM |
| – | Cape Verde vs Finland | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 8:30 AM |
March 30, 2026
| Date | Team | Stadium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| – | New Zealand vs Chile | Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand | 11:30 AM |
| – | Uzbekistan vs Venezuela | Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | 7:30 PM |
| – | Cyprus vs Moldova | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus | 9:30 PM |
| – | Germany vs Ghana | MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany | 12:15 AM |
| – | Guyana vs Belize | Estadio Cibao, Santiago, Dominican Republic | 12:30 AM |
| – | Dominica vs Sint Maarten | Estadio Cibao, Santiago, Dominican Republic | 3:30 AM |
March 31, 2026
| Team | Stadium | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cameroon vs China | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | 11:30 AM |
| Australia vs Curacao | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia | 2:40 PM |
| Guinea vs Benin | Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea | 5:30 PM |
| Kazakhstan vs Comoros | Astana Arena, Astana, Kazakhstan | 5:30 PM |
| Liberia vs Libya | Antoinette Tubman Stadium, Liberia | 5:30 PM |
| Montenegro vs Slovenia | Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro | 9:30 PM |
| Niger vs Togo | Stade Général Seyni Kountché, Niamey, Niger | 9:30 PM |
| Norway vs Switzerland | Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway | 9:30 PM |
| San Marino vs Andorra | Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle, Serravalle, San Marino | 9:30 PM |
| Serbia vs Saudi Arabia | Gradski stadion Backa Topola, Backa Topola, Serbia | 9:30 PM |
| Haiti vs Iceland | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | 10:00 PM |
| Hungary vs Greece | Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary | 10:30 PM |
| Jordan vs Nigeria | Mardin 21 Kasim Stadi | 10:30 PM |
| Russia vs Mali | Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia | 10:30 PM |
| South Africa vs Panama | DHL Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa | 11:00 PM |
| IR Iran vs Costa Rica | TBC | TBD |
| Morocco vs Paraguay | Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France | 11:30 PM |
| Peru vs Honduras | Estadio Municipal de Butarque, Leganés, Madrid, Spain | 11:30 PM |
| Algeria vs Uruguay | Allianz Stadium, Torino, Italy | 12:00 AM |
| Scotland vs Ivory Coast | Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England | 12:00 AM |
| Austria vs South Korea | Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Wien, Austria | 12:15 AM |
| England vs Japan | Wembley Stadium, London, England | 12:15 AM |
| Netherlands vs Ecuador | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands | 12:15 AM |
| Senegal vs Gambia | Stade Me Abdoulaye Wade, Diamniadio, Senegal | 12:30 AM |
| Spain vs Egypt | RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain | 12:30 AM |
| United States vs Portugal | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia | 4:30 AM |
| Argentina vs Zambia | Alberto José Armando (La Bombonera), Buenos Aires, Argentina | 4:45 AM |
| Canada vs Tunisia | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada | 5:00 AM |
| Brazil vs Croatia | Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida | 5:30 AM |
| Mexico vs Belgium | Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois | 6:30 AM |
Match Highlights and Significance
Brazil vs France (March 26)
- Historic Context: First meeting since 1998 World Cup final (France won 3-0 in Brazil 1998); first encounter since 2015 friendly
- Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Significance: Final preparation before tournament; Brazil (5-time champions) vs France (2-time champions, 2022 finalists)
- Teams: Brazil led by Real Madrid defender Marquinhos; France led by Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé
- Ticketing: General public sales begin January 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM via Ticketmaster
France vs Colombia (March 29)
- Venue: Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland
- Tournament: Part of “Road to 26” preparation series
- Significance: Colombia is reaching the 2026 World Cup after a strong CONMEBOL qualifying campaign
Brazil vs Croatia (March 31)
- Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Historic Context: Croatia lost to France in the 2018 World Cup final
- Significance: World Cup preparation for both teams
Croatia vs Colombia (March 26)
- Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Part of: “Road to 26” friendly series
Strategic Importance of March 2026 Matches
For World Cup Hopefuls: The UEFA play-offs determine the final four European qualifiers, with entire national team seasons culminating on March 26 and 31.
For World Cup Participants: Friendly matches on March 26-31 provide teams with their final competitive minutes before the tournament begins on June 11.
Tournament Timezone Acclimation: Multiple friendlies hosted in the United States (Brazil, France, Croatia, Colombia) help South American and European teams adjust to North American conditions before the World Cup.
Broadcasting and Ticketing
Brazil vs France (March 26 at Gillette)
- Presale access available at RoadTo26.com (signup required)
- Public sales: Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM
- Ticketmaster.com availability
- Starting price: $612 (as of January 8)
All UEFA Play-off Matches
- Broadcasting details to be confirmed by UEFA and national broadcasters
- Matches held across Europe in four different countries
