\n
ZURICH (AP) \u2014 World Cup qualifiers Australia and Uzbekistan will prepare for the tournament by holding a FIFA-backed intercontinental friendly tournament in March, soccer’s governing body announced Friday.<\/p>\n
The FIFA Series, a mini-tournament aimed at supporting developing soccer countries, debuted two years ago and will add its first women’s events in Brazil, Ivory Coast and Thailand next year. Brazil will host the Women’s World Cup in 2027.<\/p>\n
Australia and World Cup debutant Uzbekistan are among them. 42 teams that earned spots<\/span> A 48-team tournament co-sponsored by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. There will be 6 more locations It will be decided in the playoffs in March.<\/span>.<\/p>\nuzbekistan Hired director Fabio Cannavaro<\/span>captained the Italian national team to the 2006 title after advancing from the Asian qualifying group in June.<\/p>\nThe 42 teams are free to organize their own warm-up matches during the nine-day international break in March, often choosing their opponents based on the teams they will face in the World Cup’s group stage. <\/p>\n
Prestigious men’s teams such as defending champions Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany and Spain have little trouble finding opponents. USA expected to play Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo<\/span> In March. <\/p>\nThe FIFA Series “provides an avenue for national teams that rarely face opponents from other continents,” the governing body said.<\/p>\n
Other mini-tournament organizers in March include Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan from European soccer body UEFA, Indonesia from Asia, Mauritius and Rwanda from Africa, and Puerto Rico from the North American region known as CONCACAF.<\/p>\n
In 2024, the first mini-tournament supported by FIFA was held by Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. The tournament, which attracted the most attention in Egypt, was won by Croatia.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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