The Canadian women’s national soccer team is set to compete against Brazil, South Korea, and Zambia in April as part of the FIFA Series, which has been expanded to include 48 men’s and women’s teams by 2026.
The 2026 tournament builds on a successful pilot project in 2024, where 24 teams competed in five different locations across three continents. This time around, the 2026 edition will feature 36 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams, grouped into 12 sets of four teams each.
Canada, currently ranked 10th, will be facing off against Brazil (ranked 6th), South Korea (ranked 21st), and Zambia (ranked 64th) with Brazil hosting the matches. These games will be the Canadian team’s sole matches in the Series.
Coach Casey Stoney expressed excitement about the upcoming challenge, stating, “This is an exciting opportunity to test ourselves against three quality opponents with contrasting styles. Playing in a country with such a strong football culture only raises the level, and experiences like this are essential as we continue to raise our standards and pursue our goals.”
The Canadian women have a history of 11 wins, 11 losses, and 10 draws against Brazil, with Canada clinching victory in penalty shootouts in three of those drawn matches, including their last encounter in April 2024 at the SheBelieves Cup in Atlanta.
Against South Korea, Canada boasts a strong record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. In their most recent meeting in December 2024 in Spain under interim coach Cindy Tye, Canada secured a dominant 5-1 victory. The Canadian team has been on a winning streak against the Koreans since their 3-1 defeat at the Yongchuan Cup in China back in January 2013.
Canada has never faced Zambia before, adding an element of unpredictability to the upcoming matches.
The FIFA Series aims to provide national teams with opportunities for cross-confederation competition without adding fixtures to the international match calendar. It also aims to promote technical growth, organizational development, and global exchange within the sport.
In addition to Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Thailand will also host women’s groups during the competition. The full schedule of the tournament is yet to be announced, but games are scheduled to take place during the international match windows in March and April.
Several countries, including Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, and Uzbekistan, will host men’s groups, with Rwanda hosting two pools. Notably, five men’s teams that have qualified for the World Cup, including Australia, Uzbekistan, Cabo Verde, Curacao, and New Zealand, will be participating in the FIFA Series.
Canada’s journey in 2026 will kick off at the SheBelieves Cup, where they will play against Colombia, the USA, and Argentina on March 1, 4, and 7 respectively. The Canadian women’s team ended 2025 on a challenging note, with a five-game losing streak and a 454-minute goal drought.
