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 for the 2026 edition.
In 2024, a pilot project was conducted featuring 24 teams playing in five different locations across three continents. The 2026 edition will now include 36 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams, organized into 12 groups of four.
Ranked 10th globally, the Canadian team will be placed in a group alongside Brazil (ranked 6th), South Korea (ranked 21st), and Zambia (ranked 64th), with Brazil hosting the matches. Canada’s participation in the Series will be limited to these games.
Canada’s head coach, Casey Stoney, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming matches, 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.”
In previous encounters, the Canadian women have a record of 11 wins, 11 losses, and 10 draws against Brazil. Notably, Canada has secured victory in penalty shootouts in three of those draws, including their last meeting in April 2024 at the SheBelieves Cup in Atlanta.
Against South Korea, Canada holds a strong record of 9 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. In their most recent encounter in December 2024 in Spain under interim coach Cindy Tye, Canada achieved a convincing 5-1 victory. Since their loss in 2013, Canada has maintained a 5-0-1 record against the Korean team.
Canada has never faced Zambia in a competitive match.
The FIFA Series is designed to offer national teams the opportunity for cross-confederation competition without adding to the international match calendar. It aims to promote technical growth, organizational development, and global exchange among participating teams.
Apart from Canada, the Ivory Coast and Thailand will also host women’s groups during the Series. The competition schedule is yet to be fully disclosed, but matches will be played during international match windows in March and April.
On the men’s side, Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda, and Uzbekistan will serve as hosts for various groups, with Rwanda hosting two pools. Notably, the men’s competition will feature teams like Australia, Uzbekistan, Cabo Verde, Curacao, and New Zealand, all of which have qualified for the World Cup.
Canada’s journey in the 2026 Series will kick off at the SheBelieves Cup, where they will face Colombia, the United States, and Argentina on March 1, March 4, and March 7, respectively. The Canadian women concluded 2025 on a challenging note, with a five-game losing streak and a goal drought lasting 454 minutes.