Happy New Year! 2026 is a very special year for football fans, because the biggest World Cup of all time is taking place in the summer, and Switzerland is part of it. To ensure you don't miss any important dates, we have compiled the most important ones. And because the New Year is the time for resolutions, we have three ideas for your own training.
The most important dates for 2026
- January: The Super League and many amateur leagues prepare for the second half of the season.
- March 26 and 31: European World Cup playoffs. The winner of the path featuring Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will become a group opponent of the national team.
- June 11: World Cup opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
- June 13: Qatar vs. Switzerland, the national team's first World Cup match.
- June 18: Switzerland vs. playoff winner.
- June 24: Switzerland vs. Canada in Vancouver.
- End of June: Start of the new round-of-32 knockout stage.
- July 19: World Cup final at MetLife Stadium near New York.
What makes this World Cup special
For the first time, 48 teams are participating, and for the first time, three countries share hosting duties: the USA, Canada, and Mexico. With 104 matches in 16 cities, the tournament will be significantly longer and larger than previous World Cups. For the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, it is already its third World Cup after 1970 and 1986, a record.
Three resolutions for your football year
1. A fixed technical session every week. Schedule 20 minutes each week just for your technique. Put the appointment in your calendar as if it were a team training session.
2. A measurable goal. For example: By the start of the World Cup in June, I will get eight out of ten volleys on target. Test yourself now in January and then once a month. This way you can see if your training is working.
3. Together instead of alone. Find a training partner or a small group. It is easier to stick to it together, and small competitions provide motivation.
Why winter is perfect
Many players see the winter break as a time for recovery, and that is correct. But right now, when there are no matches, you can work on your weaknesses without pressure. Anyone who practices technique regularly in January and February will start the second half of the season with a clear advantage.
The volley as a yearly project
If you want to take on one technique for 2026, perhaps it should be the volley. It is difficult, but that is exactly why it is so valuable. A reliable volley makes you a real danger in the penalty area. With the VOLLEYCHAMP® you can approach your goal step by step: start at 10 cm, increase to 20 and 30 cm, and measure your progress every month.
A World Cup summer full of football
Imagine this: In June, you are sitting with friends at a public viewing event, the national team is playing, and during the halftime break, a small volley competition is held outside. Whoever has practiced until then has a good chance. That would be a great incentive for the coming months.
A year full of role models
A World Cup always brings out new heroes. Players who hardly anyone knew before become famous overnight, often through a single goal. Maybe this time it will be a Swiss player who makes history with a cleanly struck volley. One thing is certain: many children will try to replicate the World Cup goals in the garden this summer. There is hardly a better sign of the power of football.
We wish you a healthy, successful, and football-filled 2026. Hopp Schwiiz!
