The Zambia Women’s National Football Team will kick off their 2026 FIFA Series campaign on April 11 against Canada at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, Brazil, setting up a high-profile three-match series against some of the world’s top women’s teams.
Following their opener, the Copper Queens will face hosts Brazil on April 14, before rounding off the South American leg against Korea Republic on April 18.
The 2026 FIFA Series™, an invitational initiative launched by FIFA, is designed to provide competitive, meaningful international friendlies between teams from different confederations that would not normally face each other. This year, 48 national teams from six confederations will compete across 12 groups, with Zambia included in one of the three women’s groups alongside Brazil, Canada, and Korea Republic.
“The FIFA Series brings together teams with a wide range of competitive profiles, from established international sides to emerging football nations,” FIFA stated in its release. “It reinforces our commitment to inclusive and sustainable global football development, providing teams like Zambia with invaluable competitive experience.”
For the Copper Queens, the tournament represents an important step in their international development, offering exposure against top-tier opposition and the chance to test their growing talent on a global stage. With matches broadcast worldwide, the team’s performances will be watched by fans across all six FIFA confederations.
Zambia will join a total of 12 women’s national teams in the 2026 edition, competing in three separate four-team series hosted by Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Thailand. The men’s series will run from March 23–31, but Zambia will not participate in the men’s fixtures.
The FIFA Series also introduces a fan-friendly competitive format: draws will go straight to penalties, ensuring every match produces a result, while the group stage will crown a single victor for each cluster.
For the Copper Queens, who are steadily building their reputation in international football, this tournament offers both a challenge and a showcase. Facing powerhouse nations such as Brazil and Canada, alongside a tactically disciplined Korea Republic side, will test the squad’s resilience, depth, and tactical acumen.
The FIFA Series is a biennial invitational football tournament promoted by FIFA that features international friendlies between national teams from different confederations, taking place in March of every even-numbered year. The first edition was held in March 2024.
The FIFA Series 2026 brings together national teams with a wide range of competitive profiles, reinforcing its development-driven design. On the men’s side, participating teams span the full breadth of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, from established teams such as Australia (men’s side, ranked 26th) to emerging football nations like the US Virgin Islands (ranked 207th).
