FIFA Council locks in global football calendar, confirms major tournaments from 2026–2029

The FIFA Council has officially approved an extensive international match calendar covering the 2026 to 2029 cycle, confirming dates for several flagship competitions that will shape global football over the coming years.

The decision was taken at a meeting held ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, where officials signed off on key tournament windows across all confederations.

Among the major announcements, the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February 2027, marking the opening of a busy continental football year in Asia.

In the Americas, the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup will take place from 19 June to 11 July 2027. The same mid-year window will also host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, creating a rare overlap between two major continental tournaments.

FIFA also confirmed that Armenia and Georgia will jointly host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, a landmark decision for both nations as they step into global tournament hosting duties.

On the women’s calendar, the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup is set for 27–31 January 2027 in Miami, Florida, United States, adding another premium event to the growing international women’s football schedule.

Looking ahead, the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup will be staged in Qatar from 19 November to 13 December 2026, reinforcing the Gulf nation’s continued role as a central hub for FIFA tournaments.

The approvals underline FIFA’s strategy to streamline and balance the global football calendar, as the sport continues to expand across continents while managing an increasingly congested competitive schedule.