ZURICH (AP) — As the World Cup approaches, both Australia and Uzbekistan are gearing up for the tournament with FIFA-backed intercontinental friendly mini-tournaments scheduled for March. This initiative aims to bolster the experience of developing soccer nations on the global stage.
Launched two years ago, the “FIFA Series” of mini-tournaments has been instrumental in promoting competitive play among emerging teams. In an exciting development, the series will feature its inaugural women’s events next year, hosted by Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Thailand, as anticipation builds for Brazil’s role in the Women’s World Cup in 2027.
Both Australia and Uzbekistan have successfully qualified for the upcoming 48-team World Cup, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With six additional playoff spots to be contested in March, the excitement continues to grow.
Uzbekistan has recently appointed former Italian international Fabio Cannavaro, who once captained Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, as their coach. Their strong performance in the Asian qualifiers last June has set the stage for a promising journey in the World Cup.
During the nine-day international window in March, these 42 qualifying teams will have the liberty to organize friendly matches. Many teams strategically select opponents similar to what they expect to face in the World Cup group stages, making this time crucial for preparation.
Iconic national squads, including defending champions Argentina, alongside Brazil, England, France, Germany, and Spain, typically encounter little difficulty in arranging matches. The U.S. men’s national team is poised to battle against Portugal featuring Cristiano Ronaldo during this period.
FIFA emphasizes that the Series “provides a pathway for national teams that rarely compete against teams from other continents,” underscoring its role in enhancing global soccer growth.
In addition to the aforementioned nations, March will also see mini-tournament hosts from a variety of regions, such as Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in Europe, Indonesia in Asia, and Mauritius along with Rwanda in Africa, along with Puerto Rico from the CONCACAF region.
The FIFA Series has established itself as a vital tool for developing teams, having offered a platform for competition in past editions hosted by countries like Algeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka. Notably, Croatia emerged victorious in one of the standout events held in Egypt.
With the excitement surrounding the upcoming World Cup, these intercontinental friendly tournaments not only serve as preparation for national teams but also as a vital lifeline for soccer in developing regions.
