FIFA has officially appointed Indonesia as one of the host nations for the FIFA Series 2026, a cross-confederation friendly tournament scheduled to take place during the international breaks in March and April next year.
This appointment further strengthens Indonesia’s standing in the eyes of FIFA following the successful hosting of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2023.
What Is the FIFA Series 2026?
The FIFA Series 2026 is a biennial program that brings together national teams from different confederations in a friendly match format. The 2026 edition will be the first full-scale implementation after its pilot version took place in March 2024.
The inaugural edition in 2024 featured six series, involving 24 teams, and was hosted across six countries. Its format enabled matchups between teams from different continents, something rarely possible due to the limitations of the FIFA calendar. The success of the pilot prompted FIFA to expand the program for 2026.
Next year, FIFA will increase the number of participating teams, add more host nations, and, for the first time, introduce a dedicated women’s edition. This initiative aligns with FIFA’s 2023–2027 Strategic Objectives, which emphasize competitive balance and global technical development.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the program’s broader mission, “The FIFA Series aims to open development opportunities for players, coaches, and supporters, as well as promote the unity and diversity of football through meaningful matches.”
He added that by connecting countries through this tournament, FIFA aims to strengthen the sport at all levels and bring local communities onto the global stage.
Host Nations and Tournament Structure
FIFA has designated eight countries as hosts for the men’s category: Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, and Uzbekistan. For the women’s category, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Thailand will serve as the inaugural hosts.
As one of the host nations, Indonesia will welcome participants from five confederations outside Asia. The list of participating countries will be announced by FIFA in the near future.
The tournament structure will divide teams into several groups, each containing nations from different confederations. Although the matches are officially classified as friendlies, they hold significant strategic value by giving teams that rarely meet the chance to test their technical quality, refine tactics, and gain international match experience.
Indonesia’s Opportunity to Face European Teams
With its cross-confederation format, the FIFA Series opens the door for Indonesia to face strong teams from Europe and other regions—matchups that are seldom available during regular FIFA Matchday windows.
The format is designed to produce higher-quality, more meaningful matches that support the development of global football, all without adding further strain to an already congested international calendar.
