Stars emerge as Men’s FIFA Series concludes
Underdogs impress, starlets dazzle and goals flow as the second edition of the Men’s FIFA Series comes to an end.
- Action in the second edition of the men's side of the FIFA Series has concluded
- Nine cities played host to 33 matches
- Women's fixtures take place from 9-18 April
Following 2024’s pilot edition, the men’s side of FIFA Series 2026™ action has concluded with a thrilling slate of matches held across 11 venues in nine host cities.
There were upset wins for the likes of China PR, St Kitts and Nevis and Guam at an event that also featured five nations heading to this year’s FIFA World Cup™.
While established stars, including the likes of Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov and Australia dynamo Nestory Irankunda, impressed there were also a string of younger or lesser-known players that caught the eye.
Among those were 18-year-old Socceroos defender Lucas Herrington, Rwanda’s debutant Leroy-Jacques Mickels and young Bulgarian sensation Marin Petkov.
Action on the women’s side takes place from 9-18 April in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Thailand.
FIFA Series Australia
27 March: China PR 2-0 Curaçao
27 March: Australia 1-0 Cameroon
31 March: Cameroon 2-0 China PR
31 March: Australia 5-1 Curaçao
Australia were the highest-ranked nation across the nine venues and didn’t disappoint in bagging a pair of wins in Sydney and then Melbourne. A four-goal flurry late against fellow FIFA World Cup-bound nation Curaçao will fill the Socceroos with belief heading to the global showpiece.
FIFA Series Azerbaijan
27 March: Azerbaijan 6-1 St Lucia
30 March: Azerbaijan 1-1 Sierra Leone (PSO 9-8)
The withdrawal of Oman led to a shortened three-nation group where Azerbaijan clashed with St Lucia and then Sierra Leone. The hosts impressed in a big opening win against the former before coming from behind to draw with Sierra Leone and win the shootout 9-8.
FIFA Series Indonesia
27 March: Solomon Islands 2-10 Bulgaria
27 March: Indonesia 4-0 St Kitts and Nevis
30 March: St Kitts and Nevis 4-2 Solomon Islands
30 March: Indonesia 0-1 Bulgaria
Arguably the most impressive performer across the eight venues was a Bulgaria side that put ten past Solomon Islands first up before seeing off hosts Indonesia three days later in Jakarta. Saudi Arabia-based forward Petkov caught the eye in scoring a brace in the opener against the Solomons and the winner against the Garuda.
FIFA Series Kazakhstan
25 March: Kazakhstan 2-0 Namibia
28 March: Namibia 0-0 Comoros (PSO 5-4)
31 March: Kazakhstan 1-0 Comoros
Kuwait’s withdrawal led to a triangular series in Astana won by Kazakhstan as they bagged victories over Namibia and then Comoros. Namibia edged Comoros on penalties to earn two points and finished in second place.
FIFA Series New Zealand
27 March: Chile 4-2 Cabo Verde
27 March: New Zealand 0-2 Finland
30 March: Cabo Verde 1-1 Finland (PSO 4-2)
30 March: New Zealand 4-1 Chile
An impressive first-up win for Finland against New Zealand laid the platform for them to top the only edition to be hosted in Oceania. The All Whites bounced back from that defeat in impressive manner with a big win over Chile in their final home outing before the World Cup.
FIFA Series Puerto Rico
25 March: US Virgin Islands 5-2 American Samoa
25 March: Puerto Rico 4-0 Guam
28 March: American Samoa 0-6 Guam
28 March: Puerto Rico 2-0 US Virgin Islands
Puerto Rico impressed in winning the edition they hosted, with victories over Guam and then US Virgin Islands in Bayamon. Starlet Jeremy de Leon caught the eye in attack while a pair of clean sheets highlighted their qualities at the other end of the pitch.
FIFA Series Rwanda A
27 March: Kenya 1-1 Estonia (PSO 4-5)
27 March: Rwanda 4-0 Grenada
30 March: Grenada 0-3 Kenya
30 March: Rwanda 2-0 Estonia
Ten years after his previous stint in charge, Stephen Constantine was back at the Rwanda helm and he opted to name a squad with a host of debutants. One of those, Leroy-Jacques Mickels – one of three brothers in the squad – dazzled in scoring in wins against Grenada and then Estonia to scoop MVP honours.
FIFA Series Rwanda B
26 March: Aruba 4-1 Macau
26 March: Tanzania 0-1 Liechtenstein
29 March: Macau 0-6 Tanzania
29 March: Aruba 4-1 Liechtenstein
The second of two sections held in Kigali saw Aruba dazzle in pocketing a pair of 4-1 wins over Macau and then Liechtenstein. The latter of those was Aruba’s first-ever fixture against European opposition and provides a positive platform for Marvic Bermudez and players to build upon.
FIFA Series Uzbekistan
27 March: Venezuela 4-1 Trinidad and Tobago
27 March: Uzbekistan 3-1 Gabon
30 March: Gabon 2-2 Trinidad and Tobago (PSO 3-2)
30 March: Uzbekistan 0-0 Venezuela (PSO 5-4)
With both nations having impressed in first-up wins, it took penalties to separate Uzbekistan and Venezuela in Tashkent. It was the hosts that secured the title, helped once again by Manchester City star Khusanov, who was named player of the match.