Africa-Press – Tanzania. TAIFA Stars have been drawn in Group B of the FIFA Series 2026, a special international tournament organised by the world football governing body, FIFA, scheduled to take place in Rwanda from March 23 to 31.
This will mark the second appearance for Tanzania in the FIFA Series, having previously taken part in the 2024 edition where Taifa Stars faced Mongolia and Bulgaria.
Their return to the competition underlines the growing confidence FIFA has in Tanzania’s football progress and its competitiveness on the global stage. According to an announcement released by FIFA on Monday, a total of 48 teams will participate in the 2026 FIFA Series.
The tournament will be divided into 12 groups, comprising nine men’s groups and three women’s groups, with representation from all six FIFA confederations, making it a truly global football showcase.
In Group B, Tanzania, representing the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), will compete against Aruba, Liechtenstein and Macao of China. The group presents a valuable opportunity for Taifa Stars to test themselves against teams from different football cultures, while also gaining crucial international exposure and ranking points.
Hosts Rwanda have earned the honour of staging the FIFA Series for the first time and will host two men’s groups during the tournament. Rwanda have been placed in Group A alongside Kenya, Estonia and Grenada, setting up an exciting East African rivalry that is expected to attract significant regional attention.
FIFA further revealed that among the men’s teams set to participate, five nations, Australia, Cape Verde, Curacao, New Zealand and Uzbekistan have already qualified for this year’s FIFA World Cup. Men’s group matches will be hosted across several countries including Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda and Uzbekistan.
