Calling all soccer fans! A new year brings 365 days of unforgettable soccer matches, major tournaments, and once-in-a-lifetime moments for soccer fans to add to their calendars. As 2026 kicks off, the world’s biggest leagues are gearing up for high-stakes competitions, with every club and country chasing glory. Whether you’re counting down the days to the global spectacle of the FIFA World Cup or getting your merch ready to represent your favourite club during the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, one thing is certain, this year’s going to be anything but ordinary. Here are the top soccer events to look forward to in 2026 so you don’t miss a single moment of action this year!

1.    2025-26 UEFA Champions League

First up on our list of the top soccer events to look forward to in 2016 is the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League! This year marks the 71st season of Europe's most prestigious club competition, with Paris Saint-Germain defending their first-ever champion’s title. The long-awaited final will take place on May 30, 2026, at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary. The stakes have never been higher with the tournament winners automatically qualifying for the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League phase, the 2026 FIFA Intercontinental Cup final, the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup group stage, and the right to play against the winners of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. This event promises to be action-packed with elite matchups and the pressure that comes with competing in Europe’s most prestigious club competition!

2.    2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup (& Women’s)

Next up is a soccer event that every soccer fan in North America should have on their 2026 calendars! The 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup, otherwise known as North America’s premier club competition, returns on February 3rd. This event is something you won’t want to miss as 9 MLS sides will compete against top teams from LIGA MX and other leagues across the continent, beginning in a knockout format battle, all leading up to one final match on May 30th. Beyond winning CONCACAF glory, the winner of the Champions Cup will also earn a coveted spot in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA Continental World Cup, making the stakes higher than ever! On the women’s side, the CONCACAF W Champions Cup will enter its knockout stage from May 20th to 23rd, with the tournament winners qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup and 2028 FIFA Women's Club World Cup, two new intercontinental tournaments being launched in the next few years.

3.    Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2026

Be sure to add the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2026 event to your calendars! One of the oldest soccer competitions in the world returns for its 111th season on March 17th, bringing together 80 U.S. teams from amateur level players to MLS elites. The U.S. Open Cup is one of the most exciting (and rare) stages where the real underdog teams have a chance at rising to the top with the powerhouses. MLS teams will enter the competition in the Round of 32, with the winners receiving a whopping $1 million prize and a spot in the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup we mentioned previously. The 2026 edition has been slightly altered to avoid overlapping with the FIFA World Cup and will now include seven rounds instead of eight. Otherwise, fans can expect the same drama, action, and iconic moments that previous seasons have never failed to deliver!

4.    Leagues Cup 2026

This summer, prepare for the ultimate rivalry to heat things up once again between MLS and LIGA MX with the return of the Leagues Cup! From August 4th to September 6th, 36 clubs (18 from each league) will come together to compete in the 2026 edition, with the top nine finishers in each MLS conference from the prior season qualifying. The Leagues Cup’s top three finishers will receive automatic bids for the following year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup. With Seattle Sounders FC entering as reigning champs, the 2026 Leagues Cup promises to be one of the most intense and action-packed competition on the North American soccer calendar! 

5.    FIFA World Cup 2026

Last, but certainly not least, on our list of the top soccer events to look forward to in 2026 is the 2026 FIFA World Cup! As far as soccer events go, it arguably doesn’t get any bigger than a World Cup, and this year’s event is gearing up to be bigger than ever before. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the tournament, but it’s the first one to feature 48 teams (from 32 teams originally) and three host countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States. The event promises to be the biggest edition ever globally, with these three countries coming together to create one of the most groundbreaking tournaments in soccer history. More hosts equal more matches, and fans will be thrilled to hear that there will be a whopping 104 matches taking place which is 40 more than in Qatar, bringing even more nations into the spotlight! To learn more, check out our other blog post dedicated to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and everything we know so far (linked).

As the top soccer events of the year get closer and closer, there’s no better time to start collecting! At SoccerCards.ca, we offer a wide selection of Champions League trading cards and stickers here (linked), as well as the official 2026 FIFA World Cup merch that will get you through the year and give you something to look back on when it’s all over!