Competition Format

Overview

The FIFAe Nations League 2026 is played across three online qualifying-weeks, combining group stage play with knockout formats to ensure competitive integrity and sufficient playtime for all national teams:

• Week 1: 05-07 May
• Week 2: 08-10 June
• Week 3: 07-09 July

Formats per region

The FIFAe Nations League 2026 is split into six regions: Asia East & Oceania, Asia West, Africa, North & Central America, South America, and Europe, following the formats as outlined below:

Asia East & Oceania

TOTAL: 18 national teams

Week 1 (06-07 May) & Week 2 (09-10 June):

• Group Stage:
  • 4 groups with 5 national teams in Group A and B, 4 national teams in Group C and D respectively
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 4 national teams per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 16 qualified national teams compete in a Single Elimination Bracket

Week 3 (07-09 July):

• Same Group Stage Format as in Week 1 & 2
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 2 per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 8 qualified national teams compete in a Double Elimination Bracket

Asia West

TOTAL: 7 national teams

Week 1 (05-06 May) & Week 2 (08-09 June):

• Group Stage:
  • 1 group with 7 national teams
• Knockout Stage:
  • All national teams per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 4 qualified national teams compete in a Single Elimination Bracket

Week 3 (07-09 July):

• Same Group Stage Format as in Week 1 & 2
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 4 per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 4 qualified national teams compete in a Double Elimination Bracket

Africa

TOTAL: 21 national teams

Week 1 (05-06 May) & Week 2 (08-09 June):

• Group Stage:
  • 4 groups with 6 national teams in Group A and 5 national teams in Groups B, C, D respectively
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 4 national teams per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 16 qualified national teams compete in a Single Elimination Bracket

Week 3 (07-09 July):

• Same Group Stage Format as in Week 1 & 2
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 2 per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 8 qualified national teams compete in a Double Elimination Bracket

North & Central America

TOTAL: 10 national teams

Week 1 (06-07 May) & Week 2 (09-10 June):

• Group Stage:
  • 2 groups with 5 national teams respectively
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 4 national teams per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 8 qualified national teams compete in a Single Elimination Bracket

Week 3 (08-09 July):

• Same Group Stage Format as in Week 1 & 2
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 2 per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 4 qualified national teams compete in a Double Elimination Bracket

South America

TOTAL: 6 national teams

Week 1 (06-07 May) & Week 2 (09-10 June):

• Group Stage:
  • 1 group with 6 national teams
• Knockout Stage:
  • All national teams advance to the Knockout Stage
  • Top 2 group finishers are seeded into Quarterfinals
  • 6 qualified national teams compete in a Single Elimination Bracket

Week 3 (08-09 July):

• Same Group Stage Format as in Week 1 & 2
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 4 advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 4 qualified national teams compete in a Double Elimination Bracket

Europe

TOTAL: 20 national teams

Week 1 (05-06 May) & Week 2 (08-09 June):

• Group Stage:
  • 4 groups with 5 national teams respectively
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 4 national teams per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 16 qualified national teams compete in a Single Elimination Bracket

Week 3 (07-09 July):

• Same Group Stage Format as in Week 1 & 2
• Knockout Stage:
  • Top 2 national teams per group advance to the Knockout Stage
  • 8 qualified national teams compete in a Double Elimination Bracket

FIFAe Continental Championships

Qualification to the FIFAe Continental Championships is determined through the combined Consistency Points ranking of all three qualifying-weeks, alongside additional qualification spots awarded to the top-performing national teams in week 3. The exact number of qualification spots per region will be published soon.