FIFA to launch brand new event this month with 20 teams competing in four countries... as Gianni Infantino hails a 'positive step forward' for national team football

FIFA will roll-out a new national team event this month as the governing body aims to provide more opportunities to developing nations.

A total of 20 nations will compete in the newly launched FIFA Series, with matches taking place in the next international break between March 18 to 26.

National teams from all of FIFA's six confederations will participate in the pilot project.

Teams have been split into five groups of four, with Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka serving as hosts.

Despite not fielding a team in the event, Saudi Arabia will host two of the groups.

Algeria - who at 37 are the highest ranked team participating in the event – will host Andorra, Bolivia and South Africa.

Bulgaria, Mongolia and Tanzania will feature in a group containing hosts Azerbaijan, while Sri Lanka host Bhutan, Central African Republic and Papua New Guinea.

Cape Verde, Cambodia, Equatorial Guinea and Guyana will contest one of the two groups based in Saudi Arabia, with the second featuring Bermuda, Brunei Darussalam, Guinea and Vanuatu.

The event is aimed at providing great opportunities for nations who have not competed at the World Cup.

Sri Lanka will be the lowest ranked participants in the series, with the nation 207th out of the 211 men's national teams ranked by FIFA.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had pledged following his re-election last year to provide more opportunities for growth for nations, with the event featuring countries who typically do not play against countries outside of their own confederations.

'The FIFA Series is a really positive step forward for national-team football at global level,' Infantino said after launching the series. 

'Our member associations have been telling us for a long time now of their desire to test themselves against their counterparts from all around the world, and now they can do so within the current Men's International Match Calendar.

'More meaningful matches will enable far more valuable footballing interaction for players, teams and fans, and will make a concrete contribution to the development of the game.'

FIFA are set to cover travel costs for competing teams, but will not award trophies for the winners of the friendly series.

The governing body has suggested that while more established nations typically have their friendlies arranged in advance, bigger teams may take part in the future.

FIFA intend for the series to be fully rolled-out in March 2026, with the event held on a biennial basis.