Pilot Edition of FIFA Series Set to Get Underway in March

The inaugural edition of the FIFA Series, which will pit nations from different confederations against each other, is set to get underway in March.

The tournament will provide nations that would otherwise not play each other normally and the opportunity to square up against sides from different continents, with the objective being to permit more international football engagements outside the traditional formats.

The tournament has been pencilled in for the month of March of even years, with the pilot event commencing this month.

The first edition will see sides from twenty nations playing in four locations across three continents, including Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka.

Saudi Arabia will host two groups, while the other three nations are set to host a group each.

Algeria will welcome South Africa, Bolivia, and Andorra while Azerbaijan play host to Mongolia, Bulgaria, and Tanzania.

Bhutan, Central African Republic, Papua New Guinea will travel to Sri Lanka for their engagements, while Saudi will be the venue for the groups comprising of Cape Verde, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana and Bermuda, Brunei, Guinea, and Vanuatu.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “The FIFA Series is a really positive step forward for national-team football at the global level”.

“Our member associations have been telling us for a long time now of their desire to test themselves against their counterparts from all around the world. And now they can do so within the current Men’s International Match Calendar,” the 53-year-old said.

“More meaningful matches will enable far more valuable footballing interaction for players, teams and fans, and will make a concrete contribution to the development of the game,” he added.

FIFA Series Algeria: Algeria, South Africa, Bolivia, Andorra.

FIFA Series Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Tanzania.

FIFA Series Saudi Arabia A: Cape Verde, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana.

FIFA Series Saudi Arabia B: Bermuda, Brunei, Guinea, Vanuatu.

FIFA Series Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka Bhutan, Central African Republic, Papua New Guinea.