Papua New Guinea international Alwin Komolong during the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby. Photo: Supplied
Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea (PNG) are set to play inter-continental friendlies next month in a new FIFA project.
The pilot 'FIFA Series' will see the governing body support its member associations in organising international friendly matches.
This series is set to run every second year - in 'even' years on the calendar - comprising four national teams from different confederations in a single host country.
Algeria, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka will host and organise pilot project matches.
PNG has been invited to play in the series in Sri Lanka, and Vanuatu in one of two in Saudi Arabia, next month.
The fixture list has yet to be finalised, but Vanuatu, ranked 170 in the FIFA rankings, will compete with Bermuda (ranked 171), Brunei Darussalam (ranked 194) and Guinea (76).
PNG, ranked 165, will play the series with hosts Sri Lanka (ranked 204) , Bhutan (184) and Central African Republic (129).
Vanuatu lost to eventual champions New Caledonia in the semifinals of last year's Pacific Games. PNG failed to make the semifinals.
The pilot project will run in the FIFA international window of March 18 - 26, with full roll-out expected in 2026.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said member associations have been telling FIFA of their desire for a long time to test themselves against their counterparts from all around the world.
