Sri Lankan football has taken a significant step forward with the introduction of the FIFA Series, Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has said in a statement shared by FIFA.

The country hosted the inaugural FIFA Series in March 2024 at the Race Course Ground in Colombo, welcoming Bhutan, the Central African Republic, and Papua New Guinea for a four-nation tournament spanning three confederations.

The FFSL said that the event had been more than the delivery of an international competition, describing it as a milestone in placing Sri Lanka’s football on the global stage. 

The Race Course venue itself stood as a symbol of FIFA’s ongoing support, having been renovated and prepared for international matches under the FIFA Forward Programme, which funds infrastructure and capacity-building projects across member associations.

“Hosting the inaugural FIFA Series in Colombo in March 2024 was far more than the successful delivery of an international tournament. For Sri Lanka, it was a powerful statement that our football belongs on the global stage, and that countries still building their footballing strength deserve meaningful opportunities to compete, learn, and dream,” Umar had said in the statement.