FIFA, the international governing body for football, has revealed its schedule for the year 2024, promising a captivating array of tournaments and events.
This year will witness the continuation of qualifying rounds for the largest World Cup ever, scheduled for 2026, hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The announcement also highlighted two significant global tournaments: the Beach Soccer World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.
FIFA emphasized that the 2024 Best Awards ceremony, set to take place on January 15th in London, will kickstart the year’s international football festivities.
The annual celebration honors the game’s luminaries, distributing awards that recognize the outstanding achievements of both male and female footballers.
The Beach Soccer World Cup, “UAE 2024,” will mark the first major tournament of the year, featuring 16 national teams competing over 11 thrilling days on the sands of Dubai.
Notable contenders such as Brazil, Iran, Italy, Japan, and Portugal are vying for the coveted trophy.
Fans can expect stellar performances from football stars including Cheick Ardiel, Katarino, Edison Halk, Felipe, Marco Giordani, Bea, Leo Martinez, Mustafa Masi, and Ozu Moreira.
In addition to the tournaments, 2024 will witness the continuation of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Already underway in Asia, Africa, and South America, the CONCACAF and Oceania teams are gearing up for their matches this year.
European qualifying rounds are set to commence in early 2025.
Football competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, under FIFA’s umbrella, will be one of the year’s highlights.
Matches will unfold across seven different stadiums throughout France.
The women’s category will see 12 qualified teams divided into three groups, with the top two from each and the best two third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
Meanwhile, the 16 successful men’s teams will form four groups, with the top two from each group progressing.
Uzbekistan will host the Futsal World Cup from September 14th to October 6th, 2024, welcoming 23 teams to compete for the prestigious title.
The FIFA calendar also features the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia from August 31st to September 22nd, 2024, with 24 participating teams.
Following this, the U-17 Women’s World Cup will take place in the Dominican Republic from October 16th to November 3rd, 2024.
Closing out the FIFA events for 2024 is the inaugural Intercontinental Cup, gathering champions from prominent continental club competitions.
The decisive final, set for December 2024 on neutral ground, will witness the UEFA Champions League winner facing the victor of a playoff between two other continental champions.
