Opening matches in the FIFA Women’s Series brought wins for Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Pakistan, while USA edged a friendly with Japan.
The 2026 FIFA Women’s Series inaugural invitational tournament features friendly group matches between four teams from different continental confederations, hosted by Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Kenya.
Canada 4-0 Zambia, Brazil 5-1 South Korea
Ary Borges broke the deadlock for Brazil against South Korea with a deflected effort from a knockdown by Isa Haas. It was 2-0 shortly after the break as Ludmila stretched to stab home a ball from Kerolin, whose cutback next teed up Dudinha to score with an overhead kick. Ludmila then played in Kerolin, who cut inside and dinked the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper for 4-0. Tainá Maranhão tucked away the fifth following a ball over the top by Raissa Bahia. A mix-up at the back gave the Koreans a late consolation, as Park Soo-Jeong stole possession to slot into an empty net.
Also at the Arena Pantanal, Nichelle Prince grabbed a quick brace for Canada against Zambia before halftime, first from a cutback by Delaney Pridham and then after a deflected ball landed right back at her feet. Annabelle Chukwu added a rapid pair of goals late in the second half, heading in an Olivia Smith cross and firing a shot on the turn from Janine Sonis’s pass.
Australia 5-0 Malawi, Kenya 2-0 India
Emily van Egmond got in behind from Courtney Nevin’s free kick to give Australia an early lead after a set piece versus Malawi. Sam Kerr was gifted a goal close to half-time courtesy of a goalkeeping error. Mackenzie Arnold made a triple save, including involuntarily with her head before Alex Chidiac made it 3-0 from the edge of the box. Holly McNamara was provided with a tap-in by Jamilla Rankin and Leticia McKenna fired home for 5-0 from a Hayley Raso through ball.
The Matildas’ semi-final opponents will be Kenya, who defeated India 2-0 with goals from Martha Amnyolet after just two minutes and Terry Engesha before the hour mark.
Ivory Coast 8-0 Mauritania, Pakistan 8-0 Turks & Caicos Islands
Ivory Coast and Pakistan earlier stormed to 8-0 victories, with Priscille Kreto netting a first-half hat-trick for the former against Mauritania, and the latter overcoming Turks & Caicos Islands aided by two goals from Lewes’s Layla Banaras and one apiece from Wrexham’s Maria Mahmood and Blackburn Rovers’ Nadia Khan.
Meanwhile, in a separate international friendly, the USA defeated Japan two goals to one.
Rose Lavelle marked her 100th start for the USA with an early volleyed goal, coming after Trinity Rodman knocked the ball back across the area from a free kick. The lead was doubled soon after the interval, with Lavelle setting up Lindsey Horan to slot home. Riko Ueki halved the deficit late on with a header after Honoka Hayashi had nodded the ball through to her.
