The FIFA Series, originally known as FIFA World Series, is a biennial invitational football competition promoted by FIFA that features international friendlies between national teams from different confederations, taking place in March of every even-numbered year. The first edition was held in March 2024.
The competition brings together men's national teams from all six FIFA confederations in a series of mini-tournaments, each consisting of four teams and held at a centralised venue during the FIFA match window in March of every even-numbered year.[1][2] FIFA provides financial support to the participating national teams and is also in charge of organising the tournaments together with the host member association.[3]
History
On 16 December 2022, FIFA launched a friendly competition proposal, named the "FIFA World Series", in order to give national teams from different confederations more opportunities to play against each other.[1][4][5] FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the competition on 16 March 2023, following his re-election to the post during the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.[3]
The inaugural edition in 2024 acted as a pilot phase for the competition and was originally going to feature 5 series of 4 teams each to be held in 4 host countries during the FIFA match window from 18 to 26 March 2024.[6][2] Eventually the FIFA Series: Egypt was added for a total of 6 series and 24 teams in the inaugural edition.[7]
Following the success of the pilot phase, Infantino announced the second edition in 2026 during his speech at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand in May 2024.[8][9]
Participating teams
- Legend
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th – Final placing of each team within its tournament
- – Hosts of FIFA Series for that year
- I – Invited for upcoming tournament
| AFC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Bhutan |
4th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Brunei |
2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Cambodia |
4th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mongolia |
4th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Sri Lanka |
2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nation | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Algeria |
1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Cape Verde |
1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Central African Republic |
1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Egypt |
2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Equatorial Guinea |
3rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Guinea |
1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 South Africa |
3rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Tanzania |
3rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Tunisia |
3rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONCACAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nation | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bermuda |
3rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Guyana |
2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CONMEBOL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nation | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bolivia |
2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OFC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nation | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 New Zealand |
4th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Papua New Guinea |
3rd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Vanuatu |
4th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UEFA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nation | 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Andorra |
4th | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Azerbaijan |
2nd | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bulgaria |
1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Croatia |
1st | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also
References
- ^ a b "FIFA World Cup 2022™ praised for its "unique cohesive power"" (in Spanish). FIFA. 16 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Qué es la FIFA Series, la competencia que contará con amistosos exóticos entre selecciones" [What is the FIFA Series, the competition that will feature exotic friendlies between national teams?] (in Spanish). Olé. 17 February 2024.
- ^ a b "2023-2027: FIFA President lays out objectives for the future". FIFA. 16 March 2023.
- ^ Smith, Alan (16 December 2022). "New FIFA World Series and how it could work as Gianni Infantino outlines new tournament plans". www.mirror.co.uk. Daily Mirror.
- ^ Sengupta, Ayon (16 December 2022). "FIFA to launch biennial 'FIFA World Series' for inter-confederation matches: President Infantino". sportstar.thehindu.com. Doha: Sportstar.
- ^ "FIFA Series international friendlies pilot project to commence in March 2024". FIFA. 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Egypt announced as host as FIFA Series pilot phase expanded". FIFA. 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Gianni Infantino emphasises FIFA's mission to grow football globally in FIFA Congress address". FIFA. 17 May 2024.
- ^ "FIFA President's Address | Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand Friday, 17 May 2024" (PDF). FIFA. 17 May 2024.
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