FIFA has announced the launch of the inaugural FIFA World Series, a four-nation football tournament set to take place in Colombo from March 18 to 26, as revealed by Sri Lanka Football yesterday.
This significant confirmation followed a positive agreement between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and a delegation from Football Sri Lanka. The delegation, led by President Jaswar Umar along with Vice President Ranjith Rodrigo and Dr. Manil Fernando, reached this understanding during the recent AFC Asian Cup opening ceremony in Doha, Qatar.
The FIFA World Series aims to provide a crucial platform for teams that didn’t make it through the 2026 World Cup qualifying rounds. It offers a second chance for these teams to prepare intensely for the 2030 World Cup qualification. The tournament will primarily feature teams from the Asian, African, and Oceanic regions.
Formerly known as the 4-Nation Tournament in Sri Lanka, the event has undergone a transformation under the vision of Jaswar Umar. It will now be rebranded as the FIFA World Series, with FIFA taking the initiative to sponsor the entire tournament. The competition will feature two teams from the AFC, one from Africa, and one from the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
Expressing his enthusiasm for the tournament, FSL President Jaswar Umar stated, “This will be a great opportunity for us to improve our rankings and will serve as an eye-opening experience for all participating countries. The dedicated efforts of the FSL staff are tireless as they work towards the success of this landmark tournament.”
Sajeewa Jayakody