AAFP Celebrates Future Family Physicians in 2026 Match
After the first round of the NRMP Match, 4,613 positions were filled with students and graduates pursuing family medicine residency training. By the time this process concludes, we anticipate that over 5,400 positions will be filled, making it the largest class ever of new family medicine residents.
Explore the challenges and solutions in family medicine
recruitment and care.
-Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, AAFP President
What is the Match?
The Match process is a uniform system by which residency candidates and residency programs simultaneously “match” to fill first year and second-year post-graduate training positions accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). National Resident Matching Program® Main Residency Program instituted and maintains the Match system.
Unless they have specifically enrolled in the Military Match, which occurs in December, all graduating medical students and medical school graduates seeking a residency position should enroll in the Match.
What happens if a student does not match?
On Monday of Match week, students learn if—but not where—they matched. If a student didn't match, there's still an opportunity for them to match to a residency program through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program® (SOAP®). SOAP matches are announced along with applicants who matched in the Main Residency Match on Friday.
The SOAP is a National Resident Matching Program-run system that matches unfilled residency positions with eligible unmatched applicants. During SOAP, applicants submit new applications to residencies, interview and then are offered positions in several rounds that each have two-hour windows for response. The entire process including three or more rounds of offers takes place Monday through Thursday of Match week.
Why should students consider matching into family medicine?
With the broadest scope of all specialties, family physicians have more office visits and practice in more settings than physicians in any other medical specialty. Family medicine is one of the most recruited specialties in the United States.
Family physicians provide and coordinate comprehensive health care for people of all ages, from newborns to seniors. They provide preventive care, address mental health and diagnose, treat and manage acute and chronic conditions.
Family physicians also build long-term relationships with patients and have a holistic view of their health. This makes them uniquely positioned to provide proactive, preventive care that prioritizes long-term patient wellness.
Where can I learn more?
The Match may be a complex process, but the AAFP has articles, tools, videos and events to support Match applicants every step of the way, as well as help journalists understand the Match process.
If you’re interested in speaking with a family physician, AAFP leader, student member who is matching this year, a residency program director or resident who matched, email pr@aafp.org to arrange a media interview.
Health of the US Primary Care Thematic Report
The newest report authored by the AAFP’s Robert Graham Center, with support from the Milbank Memorial Fund and The Physicians Foundation, highlights the current trends in primary care and explores strategies to strengthen primary care and improve health outcomes.
The Match: Getting into a Residency Program
Learn more about the Match process. National Resident Matching Program® Main Residency instituted and maintains the Match system.
Strolling Through the Match Guidebook
A comprehensive guide to the Match process with tools and resources for medical students, updated with the latest data.
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