The FIFA Council approved the international calendar for national teams and the format of the 2026 World Cup
On the eve of the Congress of the International Federation of Football Associations in Rwanda, the FIFA Council approved the international calendar of matches for the men's and women's national teams.
Ahead of the start of the 73rd FIFA Congress, the FIFA Council met in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, and made several key decisions, including the calendar for the men's and women's national teams. About this the BSWW official website, . The calendars were unanimously approved after detailed consultations.
Calendar of international matches of men's national teams for 2025-2030.
March: a nine-day window for two matches.
June: a nine-day window for two matches (including possible pre-tournament friendlies).
End of September/beginning of October: A 16-day window for four matches (to be implemented from 2026, with two nine-day windows for two matches remaining in September and October 2025);
November: a nine-day window for two matches.
According to the new calendar, the final of the 2026 World Cup will be held on Sunday, July 19. Starting from May 25, 2026, a break in club competitions is established after the last official club match on May 24 (exception may be the finals of international club tournaments in confederations until May 30, subject to FIFA approval).
The period of 56 days of break in club competitions, which includes days of rest, rehabilitation and actual competition, remains the same as during the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups.
Calendar of international matches of women's national teams on 2024—2025 years
The calendar of international matches of the women's national teams for 2024-2025 will contain six windows per year of different types, so that confederations can adapt their specific qualifying tournaments to them, and national teams can play friendly matches.
The calendar includes the dates of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament (July 25 - August 10, 2024) as well as the CONCACAF Gold Cup (February 20 - March 10, 2024).
The format of the WC-2026 competition
Based on a thorough analysis that took into account sporting integrity, player welfare, team travel, commercial and sporting appeal, as well as the experience of teams and fans, the FIFA Council unanimously approved amendments to the format of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in stadiums in the United States, Canada and Mexico .
In the final tournament, instead of 16 groups, there will be three teams 12 groups of four teams. The first two national teams from each group and the eight best third teams will advance to the 1/16 finals. The revamped format reduces the risk of injury and ensures that all teams play a minimum of three matches, ensuring a balanced rest period between them.
The FiFA Council also made a decision regarding the format of the Club World Cup, the tender process for the 2027 Women's World Cup, the FIFA Statute and transfer reform.
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