As 2026 unfolds, Zambia’s women’s football teams face a year filled with crucial fixtures and historic opportunities. The FAZ Media Team has outlined key dates for fans to follow the national squads across all age groups.
On 15 January 2026, Zambia will learn its opponents for the Morocco 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) during the Final Draw in Rabat. Coach Nora Hauptle will attend the ceremony. The draw coincides with CAF announcing the Women’s Coach of the Year and other awards. This edition of WAFCON features 16 teams for the first time, including Morocco, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
From 6-8 February, the Zambia Under-20 team, the Young Copper Queens, will participate in the third round of CAF qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. They will travel to Uganda for the first leg before hosting the return leg at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. Zambia advanced to this stage after defeating Burundi 4-1 over two legs in the second round.
On 12-14 February, the Under-20 squad will host Uganda in Ndola for the second leg of the CAF qualifiers, with the winner advancing to the next round.
The Zambia Under-17 Women’s National Team will face Rwanda in the first round of CAF qualifiers for the Morocco 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The first leg will take place in Rwanda from 10-12 April, followed by the home fixture in Ndola a week later. The winner will face either DR Congo or Djibouti in May, with first and second legs scheduled for 22-24 May and 29-31 May, respectively. A third-round victory could see Zambia compete against the winner of South Sudan vs. Ethiopia or Malawi vs. Burundi.
From 17 March to 3 April, the Copper Queens will compete in CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, which also serve as the pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The top three teams will secure World Cup spots, giving Zambia a chance at back-to-back World Cup appearances after 2022.
The Under-20 team will continue African qualification matches in May, with the first legs on 1-3 May and second legs on 8-10 May. If successful, the Young Copper Queens will make their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup debut in Poland from 5-27 September 2026.
Zambia’s Under-17 team will also aim for a third consecutive appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in October 2026, although official dates are yet to be confirmed.
Additional fixtures for all Zambian women’s national teams will take place under the COSAFA platform once the calendar is finalized.
2026 promises to be a landmark year for Zambian women’s football, with opportunities at continental and global levels for all national teams. Fans can expect a busy calendar, historic firsts, and a chance to watch Zambia continue its rise on the international stage.