- FIFA to help member associations organize intercontinental friendly matches during the March window of every even year
- Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka to host and organize FIFA Series pilot phase matches
- This initiative aims to provide motivating gaming opportunities to member associations
As part of its 2023-2027 strategic objectives for global football , and in the wake of the decision taken by the FIFA Council in December 2022 , FIFA will launch the pilot phase of the FIFA Series during the March 2024 window of the international match calendar.
The FIFA Series will be an opportunity for world football's governing body to help its member associations organize series of intercontinental friendlies in a format where each group will have four teams from different confederations, and where all matches will take place in the same host country. This initiative will allow member associations to compete more regularly against national teams from other continents, which will open new horizons in terms of technical development for many of them in which such opportunities were absent.
The FIFA Series will further provide participating member associations with additional commercial opportunities and increased exposure.
The pilot phase will be held from March 18 to 26, 2024, with the official launch scheduled for March 2026. Selections from the six confederations will participate in the March 2024 edition. The FIFA Series should then be held every even year, when from the March window of the international match calendar.
“The FIFA Series represents a valuable step forward for international football,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Our member associations have been telling us for a long time about their desire to compete against other selections from around the world. They now have the opportunity to do so on the windows of the international men's match calendar. The fact that there is a real stake will give much more value and interest to the matches, for the players as well as for the teams and the supporters, and this will contribute in a tangible way to the development of our sport.
The following teams will participate in the pilot phase of the FIFA Series 2024, which will take place in March 2024:
FIFA Series: Algeria
Algeria (CAF)
Andorra (UEFA)
South Africa (CAF)
Bolivia (CONMEBOL)
FIFA Series: Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (UEFA)
Bulgaria (UEFA)
Mongolia (AFC)
Tanzania (CAF)
FIFA Series: Saudi Arabia A
Cambodia (AFC)
Cape Verde (CAF)
Equatorial Guinea (CAF)
Guyana (Concacaf)
FIFA Series: Saudi Arabia B
Bermuda (Concacaf)
Brunei (AFC)
Guinea (CAF)
Vanuatu (OFC)
FIFA Series: Sri Lanka
Bhutan (AFC)
Papua New Guinea (OFC)
Central African Republic (CAF)
Sri Lanka (AFC)
