With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, preparations are intensifying among the game’s elite nations. As part of their build-up to the global showpiece, Brazil, France, Croatia and Colombia will contest a high-profile international friendly series titled ‘Road to 26’, scheduled for March in the United States.
The participating football associations jointly confirmed the match dates and venues on Thursday. Taking advantage of the FIFA international window, the fixtures will be staged across major American cities, including Foxborough (Massachusetts), Orlando (Florida) and the Washington, DC metropolitan area—all key host regions for the upcoming World Cup.
According to the latest FIFA rankings, France sit third, Brazil fifth, Croatia tenth, and Colombia thirteenth, ensuring that each encounter promises top-tier competition rather than routine warm-up fixtures.
The headline clash of the series will take place on 26 March at the iconic Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, where Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil will face Didier Deschamps’ France. This meeting between two former world champions is expected to draw global attention, serving as an early indicator of tactical readiness and squad depth.
The following day, Colombia will take on Croatia at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. Croatia remain one of international football’s most consistent tournament performers, having finished runners-up at the 2018 World Cup and secured third place in 2022.
On 29 March, France will return to action against Colombia at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, before the series concludes with Brazil versus Croatia in Orlando on 1 April.
Match Schedule (Bangladesh Time)
| Date | Fixture | Venue | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 March | Brazil vs France | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | 2:00 am |
| 27 March | Colombia vs Croatia | Camping World Stadium, Orlando | 5:30 am |
| 29 March | France vs Colombia | Northwest Stadium, Landover | 1:00 am |
| 1 April | Brazil vs Croatia | Orlando | 6:00 am |
Beyond the football, the series also carries commercial and symbolic significance. Brazilian media have reported that the Seleção will unveil their official 2026 World Cup kits during these matches—wearing a new yellow strip against France and a blue version against Croatia. France and Croatia are likewise expected to debut updated kits and equipment as part of their own World Cup branding strategies.
Earlier, during the 2026 World Cup group-stage draw held in Washington, DC on 5 December, CBF president Samir Xaud had confirmed Brazil’s intention to face France and Croatia in March, though dates and venues were finalised later on 19 December.
The expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, running from 11 June to 19 July, across 16 host cities. Brazil have been drawn into Group C, where they will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
Taken together, the ‘Road to 26’ series is more than a set of friendlies—it is a carefully curated rehearsal, offering fans an early taste of the intensity, narratives and rivalries that will define football’s grandest stage next summer.
