BIENNIAL FIFA SERIES OF FRIENDLY GAMES TO LAUNCH IN MARCH
FIFA are launching a new series of friendly matches in one location during the international window called the FIFA Series, with a pilot project kicking off in four countries next month, world soccer’s governing body said on Monday.
Although there are no trophies or prize money, the series is designed to benefit national teams that do not have the opportunity to play teams from other confederations, with FIFA set to cover travel costs.
A soft launch of the FIFA Series will take place from March 18-26 at four locations -- Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka. Four teams will be based in one location and will play two matches each.
“Some countries have never played teams outside their confederations,” Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA’s Regional Member Associations Director for Europe, told reporters.
“They can gain competitive experience playing teams outside their own confederation, playing teams with a completely different style of play.
“Currently we have 20 teams for the pilot edition. For the 2026 edition we hope to have many more.”
Saudi Arabia will host two groups although the hosts themselves will not be involved in the matches, which are designed to benefit teams that have never qualified for the World Cup.
“The next World Cup (in 2026) will have 48 teams which means you may have many member associations who never played in a World Cup,” said Kenny Jean-Marie, FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer.
“They may arrive in the U.S., Mexico or Canada with no international experience outside their continent.”
Mammadov said they are currently working on fixing television broadcast deals for the Series while they will also look to stream matches on the FIFA+ platform.
He added there were no disagreements with confederations regarding scheduling these tournaments as they were being played during the international break.
The next edition in 2026 could see bigger teams looking to take part.
“We’ve started discussions with high-ranked teams and they hope to play and even host the next edition in March 2026. There is interest to host,” he said.
With FIFA only facilitating and not organising the tournaments, Mammadov said they were inviting member associations with their own sponsors on the ground to sponsor the
MASON Greenwood wants an investigation into whether Jude Bellingham called him a “rapist” dropped.
Real Madrid’s Bellingham appeared to mouth a slur after tackling the Getafe player this month.
Spanish footie bosses launched a probe, which could see England star Bellingham 20, hit with a ban.
But a source said: “Mason has told them he doesn’t want Jude to be punished and has asked them to drop it.
Series.
“But if companies approach to sponsor the FIFA Series, FIFA will not close the door,” he added.
FIFA SERIES — MARCH 2024
ALGERIA Teams:
Algeria, Bolivia, Andorra, South Africa
“He doesn’t want bad publicity and wants to get on with playing football.
“He was very upset at the time as he didn’t expect it from someone like Jude.
“But he knows he’s always likely to be a target for that kind of stuff so he’s accepted he’ll need a thick skin.”
Greenwood, 22, was loaned from Man United last September after bosses ruled he needed to rebuild his career away from Old Trafford — despite charges of attempted rape, assault and controlling behaviour
AZERBAIJAN
Teams: Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Tanzania, Bulgaria
SRI LANKA
Teams: Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Bhutan, Central African Republic
SAUDI ARABIA
Group A: Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guyana, Cambodia
Group B: Guinea, Vanuatu, Bermuda, Bru nei
— FIFA. being dropped.
He has settled in Spain with his partner and baby and is being pursued by Barcelona after scoring seven goals with five assists in 25 league games.
United’s minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week appeared to open the door to a return, saying: “The process will be to understand the facts, not the hype and then come to a fair decision on the basis of values — which is basically, ‘Is he a good guy or not?’.”