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Sierra Leone’s senior men’s national team, Leone Stars, will participate in the FIFA Men’s Series for the first time, following official confirmation from world football’s governing body, FIFA.
The FIFA Men’s Series is a biennial invitational international tournament designed to provide competitive friendly matches between national teams from different confederations. The competition is scheduled to take place in March 2026 and represents the second edition of the tournament, following its inaugural staging in March 2024.
The 2026 edition will feature national teams drawn from all six FIFA confederations, grouped into several mini-tournaments. Each group will consist of four teams, offering opportunities for cross-confederation competition, exposure, and technical development. The initiative forms part of FIFA’s broader strategy to promote global football development, competitive balance, and international collaboration.
Sierra Leone has been drawn into a group alongside host nation Azerbaijan, as well as St. Lucia and Oman, presenting the Leone Stars with an opportunity to test themselves against opponents from Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.
In addition to the sporting benefits, FIFA will provide financial support to all participating national teams, helping to offset logistical and operational costs associated with international fixtures. This support is aimed at ensuring broader participation, particularly for countries with limited resources, while strengthening the global football ecosystem.
For Sierra Leone, participation in the FIFA Men’s Series represents a significant milestone, offering valuable international exposure, competitive match experience, and a platform to assess squad depth, tactical development, and player performance ahead of future competitive tournaments, including the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.
The Leone Stars’ involvement in the 2026 FIFA Men’s Series underscores the country’s continued engagement with international football and its commitment to strengthening the national team within a global competitive framework.
