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2024 FIFA Series

The 2024 FIFA Series was the inaugural edition of the FIFA Series, an invitational association football competition promoted by FIFA that features friendly matches between national teams from different continental confederations. The inaugural edition featured six different series that took place across five host countries from 21 to 26 March 2024.[1]

Background

The friendly competition was first announced as a FIFA initiative in December 2022 under the name "FIFA World Series",[2] and later confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on 16 March 2023 following his re-election to the post during the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda.[3] The competition will bring together men's national teams from its six confederations in a series of friendly tournaments during the FIFA match window in March of every even-numbered year.[4] The competition is intended to provide FIFA's member associations with "key playing opportunities" by allowing them to more regularly play teams from other confederations which they would otherwise not face, allowing for greater technical development opportunities. It is also intended to provide member associations with additional commercial opportunities and exposure.[1]

The 2024 edition acted as a pilot phase for the competition.[1] In each series apart from Egypt (which was a late addition), all inter-confederation fixtures were the first international meeting between the sides.[5]

Participating teams

The following teams participated in the 2024 event.

By confederation

Venues

2024 FIFA Series is located in Eurasia
Colombo
Jeddah
Algiers
Annaba
Cairo
NAC
NAC
Baku
Baku
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Location of the 2024 FIFA Series venues

Series

The series were organized as international friendlies. Only the Egypt series featured a knockout format, with winners determined by a penalty shoot-out following a tie.

All times are local.[7][8] Each team's confederation is indicated in brackets.

Algeria

The FIFA Series: Algeria took place in Annaba and Algiers from 21 to 26 March 2024, and involved the hosts Algeria (CAF), Andorra (UEFA), Bolivia (CONMEBOL) and South Africa (CAF).[9][10]

Initially, the tournament was expected to be played in a different format, with semi-finals to be played in Oran and Annaba and the finals to be played in Algiers.[11] Albania was also expected to participate but eventually declined to instead play friendlies in Europe and was replaced by Andorra.[12]

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts
19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba
Referee: Nabil Boukhalfa (Algeria)
Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers
Referee: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)
19 May 1956 Stadium, Annaba
Referee: Houssam Benyahia (Algeria)
Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers
Referee: Amir Loussaif (Tunisia)

Azerbaijan

The FIFA Series: Azerbaijan took place in Baku on 22 and 25 March 2024, and involved the hosts Azerbaijan (UEFA), Bulgaria (UEFA), Mongolia (AFC) and Tanzania (CAF).[13][14][15][16]

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts
Dalga Arena, Baku
Attendance: 154[17][18]
Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan)
Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Referee: Zorbay Küçük (Turkey)
Dalga Arena, Baku
Attendance: 146[19]
Referee: Elçin Məsiyev (Azerbaijan)
Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Attendance: 3,220[20][21]
Referee: Kristo Tohver (Estonia)

Egypt (ACUD Cup)

Croatia v Tunisia

The FIFA Series: Egypt, also known as the ACUD International Football Cup, took place in Cairo and the New Administrative Capital on 22, 23 and 26 March 2024, and involved the hosts Egypt (CAF), Croatia (UEFA), New Zealand (OFC) and Tunisia (CAF).[22]

The tournament was originally not part of the FIFA Series, but a separate cup event called the Winsunited Cup (W Cup).[23] It was scheduled to be played in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[24] However, due to sponsorship issues, on 14 March 2024 the tournament was moved to Egypt,[25][26] and became part of the FIFA Series.[27]

Croatia won the tournament following a 4–2 victory over the hosts Egypt in the final.[28]

Bracket

Semi-finals

Misr Stadium, New Administrative Capital
Attendance: 30,200
Referee: Clement Franklin Kpan (Ivory Coast)
Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Attendance: 4,300
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf (Egypt)

Third place play-off

Cairo International Stadium, Cairo
Referee: Ahmed El Ghandour (Egypt)

Final

Misr Stadium, New Administrative Capital
Referee: Adalbert Diouf (Senegal)

Saudi Arabia A

The FIFA Series: Saudi Arabia A took place in Jeddah from 21 to 26 March 2024, and involved Cambodia (AFC), Cape Verde (CAF), Equatorial Guinea (CAF) and Guyana (CONCACAF).[29][30][31]

Source: [citation needed]
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Shukri Al-Hunfush (Saudi Arabia)
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Hussain Al-Shuwaikh (Bahrain)
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Qasim Matar Al-Hatmi (Oman)
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Faisal Suleiman Al-Balawi (Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia B

The FIFA Series: Saudi Arabia B took place in Jeddah from 21 to 26 March 2024, and involved Bermuda (CONCACAF), Brunei (AFC), Guinea (CAF) and Vanuatu (OFC).[30]

Initially Curaçao was also expected to participate, but they were eventually replaced by Bermuda.[32]

Source: [citation needed]
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Ahmed Al Ali (Jordan)
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Qasim Matar Al-Hatmi (Oman)
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Sami Ahmed Al-Jurays (Saudi Arabia)
King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah
Referee: Abdullah Dhafer Al-Shehri (Saudi Arabia)

Sri Lanka

The FIFA Series: Sri Lanka took place in Colombo on 22 and 25 March 2024, and involved the hosts Sri Lanka (AFC), Bhutan (AFC), Central African Republic (CAF) and Papua New Guinea (OFC).[33][34][35][36]

The tournament acted as a successor to the 2021 Four Nations Football Tournament, also held at the same venue.[37]

Source: [citation needed]
(H) Hosts
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Attendance: 1,100[38]
Referee: Mohamed Jafran (Sri Lanka)
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Attendance: 5,089[39]
Referee: Meshari Ali Al Shammari (Qatar)
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Attendance: 550[40]
Referee: Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Attendance: 6,320[41]
Referee: Meshari Ali Al Shammari (Qatar)

Goalscorers

There were 68 goals scored in 24 matches, for an average of 2.83 goals per match.

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

References

  1. ^ a b c "FIFA Series international friendlies pilot project to commence in March 2024". FIFA. 26 February 2024.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2022 praised for its "unique cohesive power"" (in Spanish). FIFA. 16 December 2022.
  3. ^ "2023–2027: FIFA President lays out objectives for the future" (in Spanish). FIFA. 16 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Qué es la FIFA Series, la competencia que contará con amistosos exóticos entre selecciones" [What is the FIFA Series, the competition that would feature exotic friendlies between national teams?] (in Spanish). Olé. 17 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Internationals". 11v11.com. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  6. ^ "FIFA Men's Ranking 15 February 2024". FIFA. 15 February 2024.
  7. ^ "FIFA Series 2024 match schedule now available". FIFA. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  8. ^ "FIFA Series 2024™ International Friendlies Match Schedule" (PDF). FIFA. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Tournoi FIFA Series 2024 : L'Algérie accueille la compétition du 18 au 26 mars 2024" [2024 FIFA Series Tournament; Algeria to host the competition from 18 to 26 March 2024] (in French). Algerian Football Federation. 31 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Sélection nationale : Petkovic dévoile la liste des joueurs pour les matchs face à la Bolivie et l'Afrique du Sud" [National team: Petkovic unveils list of players for matches against Bolivia and South Africa] (in French). Algerian Football Federation. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  11. ^ Guerin, Andreas (27 December 2023). "Football : un nouveau tournoi international organisé en mars 2024 en Algérie" [Football: a new international tournament to be held in March 2024 in Algeria] (in French). Le Parisien.
  12. ^ "Foot/Tournoi FIFA Séries 2024: l'Algérie défiera la Bolivie le 22 mars" [Football/2024 FIFA Series Tournament: Algeria to face Bolivia on March 22] (in French). Algiers: Algeria Press Service. 31 January 2024.
  13. ^ "FIFA is launching a new project". Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 12 January 2024.
  14. ^ "The venue and kick-off time for the matches of Azerbaijan". Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 20 February 2024.
  15. ^ Ismayilova, Laman (25 January 2024). "Baku to host mini-tournament of FIFA series". AzerNews [az].
  16. ^ "България ще участва в дебютното издание на турнира FIFA Series" [Bulgaria will participate in the first edition of the FIFA Series tournament] (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 22 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Приятелски мачове Кръг 1, 22 март 2024". teambulgaria.bg (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Match Report of Tanzania vs Bulgaria 2024-03-22 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Tanzania 3-0 Mongolia (Mar 25, 2024) Final Score". www.espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Azerbaijan vs. Bulgaria" (JSON). Union of European Football Associations. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Match Report of Azerbaijan vs Bulgaria 2024-03-25 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Izmjene u lokacijama odigravanja utakmica na ACUD Cupu" [Changes in the locations of the ACUD Cup matches] (in Croatian). Croatian Football Federation. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Croatia, New Zealand, Egypt and Tunisia to play inaugural tournament in UAE". Croatia Week. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  24. ^ "All Whites kick-off 2024 with four-team tournament alongside Croatia, Egypt and Tunisia this March". New Zealand Football. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  25. ^ Team, KingFut (13 March 2024). "OFFICIAL: Winsunited Cup to take place in Cairo instead of UAE". KingFut. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  26. ^ Egyptian Football Association [@EgyptNT_EN] (14 March 2024). "We are pleased to announce the participation of our national team in the inaugural ACUD Cup by Sports United alongside Croatia, Tunisia, and New Zealand. The tournament will be held in Egypt from March 18 to 26" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ "Egypt announced as host as FIFA Series pilot phase expanded". FIFA. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Hossam Hassan faces reality check as Egypt falls to Croatia in Egypt Capital Cup Final". Al Ahram. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  29. ^ Demba, Varore (14 February 2024). "Cap Vert et Guinée Equatoriale : un tournoi en Arabie Saoudite en mars" [Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea: a tournament in Saudi Arabia in March] (in French). Sport News Africa.
  30. ^ a b "السعودية تستضيف مجموعتين من سلسلة فيفا الودية" [Saudi Arabia hosts two groups of the FIFA Series] (in Arabic). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 27 February 2024.
  31. ^ Ramzan, Avenash (8 March 2024). "Historic! Golden Jaguars to play FIFA Series friendly matches in Saudi Arabia". News Room.
  32. ^ Demba, Varore (15 February 2024). "La Guinée en Arabie saoudite en mars" [Guinea in Saudi Arabia in March] (in French). Sport News Africa.
  33. ^ Sajeewa Jayakody (18 January 2024). "SL hosts FIFA World Series debut". Daily News.
  34. ^ "Sri Lanka to host inaugural 'FIFA Series'". The Morning. 29 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Inaugural FIFA 'World Series' in Sri Lanka". www.dailymirroronline.com. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  36. ^ "FIFA Series 2024 – Sri Lanka Edition: Match Schedule". Bhutan Football Federation. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024 – via Facebook.
  37. ^ "SL hosts FIFA World Series debut". www.dailynews.lk. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Match Report of Central African Republic vs Bhutan 2024-03-22 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  39. ^ "Match Report of Sri Lanka vs Papua New Guinea 2024-03-22 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Match Report of Central African Republic vs Papua New Guinea 2024-03-25 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Match Report of Sri Lanka vs Bhutan 2024-03-25 FIFA Series". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 25 January 2024.

External links