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Kuala Lumpur: The inaugural FIFA Series took place across six different locations over the recent international period featuring 24 teams from all over the world including five from Asia.
Mongolia, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, Sri Lanka and Bhutan were all part of the new FIFA initiative, so join the-AFC.com as we recap how these teams fared.
History was made for Brunei Darussalam at the FIFA Series!
Brunei played outside of their confederation for the first time ever, facing Bermuda and Vanuatu in Saudi Arabia.
They ended their FIFA Series on a high with a memorable victory against Vanuatu, winning 3-2.
pic.twitter.com/uM3KIrXigM— FIFA (@FIFAcom) March 28, 2024
In the series hosted by Azerbaijan in Baku, Mongolia played two matches earning valuable match experience against Azerbaijan and Tanzania.
The East Asian side, under the guidance of Japanese tactician Ichiro Otsuka, lost 1-0 to Azerbaijan and were also defeated 3-0 by Tanzania.
There were two separate groups hosted by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, with Cambodia in one and Brunei Darussalam in the other.
Equatorial Guinea handed Cambodia a 2-0 defeat, followed by a 4-1 loss to Guyana with Sieng Chanthea equalizing for the Southeast Asian side before the Caribbean team ran away with the win.
In the other group, Brunei Darussalam recorded their first win in 10 international matches as they came from behind to beat Vanuatu 3-2 in their second match, having lost the first 2-0 to Bermuda.
Bong Kalo put Vanuatu in front in the first half before Syafiq Saifuddin equalised eight minutes into the second half but they once again went behind to a Kerry Lawak strike in the 71st minute.
However, Brunei turned the game around soon after as Nur Ikhwan Othman levelled proceedings two minutes later before Hakeme Yazid sealed the win with a stoppage time winner.
Sri Lanka played host to Central African Republic, Papua New Guinea and fellow Asian side, Bhutan with the four matches played in Colombo.
Sri Lanka emerged unbeaten in the series after securing a goalless draw with Papua New Guinea and defeating Bhutan 2-0 through goals from Dillon de Silva and Oliver Kelaart.
Bhutan's first game in the group saw them trailing 1-0 at half-time to Central African Republic before eventually losing 6-0.