In a surprising development, the world football governing body FIFA has excluded the Black Stars of Ghana from its inaugural FIFA Series competition, marking a significant omission for the West African nation.

Ghana's absence comes amid a challenging period for the national team, having struggled in recent major tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where they failed to advance past the group stages.

Instead, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Cape Verde, Guinea, and the Central African Republic have been selected to participate in the maiden edition of the FIFA Series, set to commence in March 2024.

Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka have been designated as hosts and organizers for the pilot projects, signaling FIFA's ambition to establish a new era of intercontinental friendlies.

The FIFA Series aims to provide member associations with a unique platform for engaging in a series of international matches, fostering technical development and cultural exchange among participating nations.

The format will feature groups comprising four teams from different confederations, converging in a single host country for a series of matches.

This innovative approach is poised to promote diversity and collaboration within the global football community.

The pilot phase, scheduled for March 18 to 26, 2024, will serve as a prelude to the official launch slated for March 2026, with teams from six confederations set to participate.

While Ghana's absence from the inaugural event is notable, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remains optimistic about the transformative potential of the FIFA Series, heralding it as a valuable step forward for international football.

As anticipation builds for the kickoff, the participating teams in the pilot phase reflect a diverse array of footballing cultures, promising an enthralling showcase of talent and competition on the international stage.

While Ghana may have missed out on this occasion, the FIFA Series represents a landmark addition to the global football calendar, offering participating member associations enhanced commercial opportunities and increased visibility worldwide.

The participating teams in the pilot phase of the 2024 FIFA Series include:

 FIFA Series: Algeria
– Algeria (CAF)
– Andorra (UEFA)
– South Africa (CAF)
– Bolivia (CONMEBOL)

 FIFA Series: Azerbaijan
– Azerbaijan (UEFA)
– Bulgaria (UEFA)
– Mongolia (AFC)
– Tanzania (CAF)

 FIFA Series: Saudi Arabia A
– Cambodia (AFC)
– Cape Verde (CAF)
– Equatorial Guinea (CAF)
– Guyana (Concacaf)

 FIFA Series: Saudi Arabia B
– Bermuda (Concacaf)
– Brunei (AFC)
– Guinea (CAF)
– Vanuatu (OFC)

 FIFA Series: Sri Lanka
– Bhutan (AFC)
– Papua-New Guinea (OFC)
– Central African Republic (CAF)
– Sri Lanka (AFC)