The third day of action at the FIFA Series 2026™ featured a slew of upsets, with a host of FIFA World Cup 2026™-bound nations falling to lower-ranked foes. The day’s opening fixtures saw a trio of such nations, Cabo Verde, New Zealand and Curaçao all lose while Australia needed a late Jordan Bos goal to see off Cameroon.
Elsewhere, Bulgaria hammered Solomon Islands as Venezuela toppled Trinidad and Tobago. AFC powerhouses Indonesia and Uzbekistan also claimed wins versus St Kitts and Nevis and Gabon, respectively. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan hit St Lucia for six while, in Rwanda, Estonia defeated Kenya in a sudden-death penalty shootout before Rwanda dispatched Grenada.
China PR goals: Wei Shihao (45+2), Zhang Yuning (59)
On a day when several North American-bound nations struggled, China PR started the string of upsets as they toppled Curaçao in Sydney. Forward Zhang Yuning’s flicked header set up Wei Shihao’s well-taken opener before he pounced on a shaky clearance to slam home the second.
Australia goal: Jordan Bos (85)
Australia are the highest-ranked nation taking part in this year’s edition of the FIFA Series but they struggled for long periods at home against Cameroon.
On an evening when Ajdin Hrustic had a second-half penalty saved and Connor Metcalfe limped off with injury, the highlights were Jordan Bos’ late toe-poked winner and an impressive debut from 18-year-old central defender Lucas Herrington.
Chile goals: Ben Brereton (16), Maximiliano Gutierrez (58), Felipe Loyola (67), Gonzalo Tapia (79)
Cabo Verde goals: Dailon Livramento (21), Sidny Cabral (45+3)
Set to make their World Cup debut in three months’ time, Cabo Verde were going toe-to-toe with Chile before they had defender Diney sent off late in the opening stanza. That flung open the second half floodgates with La Roja scoring thrice, the pick of them being a long-range Maximiliano Gutierrez effort, to run out comfortable winners in New Zealand.
Finland goals: Joel Pohjanpalo (25), Jaakko Oksanen (85)
World Cup-bound New Zealand were looking for a positive build-up in their final two home matches before jetting off for North America but instead ran into a clinical Finland side that sunk them with goals in either half.
Captain Joel Pohjanpalo’s thumping first-half header set Finland on their way before a late counter saw Topi Keskinen tee up Jaakko Oksanen to put a dampener on the hosts’ Auckland outing.
Solomon Islands goals: Raphael Lea’i (29 pen, 70)
Bulgaria goals: Marin Petkov (5, 45+2), Tonislav Yordanov (13 pen), Filip Krastev (39, 44), Vladimir Nikolov (53, 81, 90+3), Georgi Rusev (63 pen), Kristiyan Balov (65)
A rampant Bulgaria proved far too strong for the Solomon Islands in their Jakarta opener. Marin Petkov got the ball rolling, before Tonislav Yordanov stroked home a penalty to double the lead. The OFC side regained a foothold when Lea’i netted a spot-kick of his own, but a pair from Filip Krastev and another Petkov effort put Bulgaria back in the driving seat.
Half-time substitutes Vladimir Nikolov, Georgi Rusev and Kristiyan Balov extended the lead, and while Lea’i notched his second of the day, Nikolov went on to complete a hat-trick to finish the scoring. Bulgaria will now face Indonesia, while Solomon Islands take on St Kitts and Nevis.
Venezuela goals: Delvin Alfonzo (60, 67), Salomon Rondon (81, 85)
Trinidad and Tobago goal: Reon Moore (52)
Venezuela claimed their first competitive win since June 2025 with a comeback victory over Concacaf nation Trinidad and Tobago.
The islanders took the lead just after the break, with Reon Moore volleying home from the edge of the six-yard box following good work by Levi Garcia. Just 15 minutes later, though, and Trinidad were behind, with Delvin Alfonzo slamming home a thunderous near-post effort, before tapping in a Jorge Yriarte cross at the back post. Substitute Salomon Rondon then notched his 49th and 50th international goals to make the game safe. La Vinotinto take on World Cup-bound Uzbekistan next time out, as Trinidad face Gabon.
Indonesia goals: Beckham Putra (15, 25), Ole Romeny (53), Mauro Zijlstra (75)
A pair of goals in each half saw Indonesia breeze past St Kitts and Nevis to open their FIFA Series campaign with victory.
Putra got the first after rounding St Kitts stopper Julani Archibald to tuck home, and quickly doubled the lead with a neat finish from just inside the area. After assisting the first two, Romeny got himself on the scoresheet by firing in after St Kitts failed to clear a corner. There was still time for Zijlstra to add a fourth, slotting beyond Archibald when clean through on goal. The Garuda will tackle Bulgaria next, while St Kitts face Solomon Islands.
Uzbekistan goals: Eldor Shomurodov (14), Jakhongir Urozov (59), Alisher Odilov (90+4)
Gabon goal: Teddy Averlant (6)
World Cup-bound Uzbekistan came from behind to defeat Gabon, ensuring the White Wolves have lost just two of their previous 36 matches.
It was the African side who opened the scoring, with Averlant stealing in to net his first international goal. The lead didn’t last long, however, with Shomurodov neatly converting a deep Azizjon Ganiev free-kick for his 44th Uzbekistan goal. The comeback was complete just before the hour, with Urozov heading in, before Odilov made the game safe in stoppage time. Fabio Cannavaro’s side will cross swords with Venezuela next, as Gabon battle Trinidad and Tobago.
Azerbaijan goals: Emin Makhmudov pen (2), Rahim Sadikhov (21), Musa Gurbanli (37), Toral Bayramov (64), Vusal Isgandarli (86), Rustam Akhmedzade (89)
St Lucia goal: Donovan Phillip pen (52)
Azerbaijan dispatched Concacaf opponents St Lucia to record their first victory in 17 international matches. Their most previous triumph came in a 3-2 friendly win over Kazakhstan in June 2024.
The home team took an immediate lead courtesy of an Emin Makhmudov penalty after St Lucia gave away a spot-kick after just 30 seconds. Rahim Sadikhov made it two with a close-range header before Musa Gurbanli scored his first international goal for almost two years prior to the break.
Amid wholesale changes to the line-ups and pouring rain in Sumgayit, Donovan Phillip pulled a goal back for St Lucia with a penalty of his own. But Azerbaijan restored their advantage thanks to Toral Bayramov’s near-post effort before Vusal Isgandarli and Rustam Akhmedzade sealed the rout late on to ensure a record margin of victory.
Kenya goal: Ryan Ogam (51)
Estonia goal: Tanel Tammik (21)
Kenya bounced back from their 8-0 drubbing by Senegal in November to hold European opponents Estonia to a 1-1 draw during regulation to somewhat ease the pressure on coach Benni McCarthy. There was further disappointment for Kenya, however, as Estonia won a sudden-death penalty shootout following a miss by Richard Odada.
During the 90 minutes at Rwanda’s Kigali Stadium, Estonia took the lead after Tanel Tammik powerfully headed in a Kevor Palumets corner for his first international goal. Kenya fought back and levelled the scores thanks to a brilliant team goal which was finished off by Ryan Ogam, who neatly chipped Estonia goalkeeper Karl Andre Vallner.
Rwanda goals: Leroy-Jacques Mickels (45+2), Jojea Kwizera (45+6), Djihad Bizimana (69), Hakim Sahabo (80)
Stephen Constantine celebrated his return as Rwanda coach with a comprehensive victory over Concacaf opponents Grenada.
Spurred on by their home fans, Rwanda ended the opening half on the highest of notes with two goals in stoppage time, first a long-range strike from Leroy-Jacques Mickels into the top corner followed by an equally dazzling effort from Jojea Kwizera.
The Amavubi continued where they left off in the second half, as Djihad Bizimana intercepted a loose ball and found the net from distance. Hakim Sahabo made it four late on with a drive that crossed the line before being cleared by a Grenada defender.
