Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi discussed bilateral ties and key international developments during a telephone conversation late Monday night, according to a statement from the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The talks focused on strengthening relations between Iran and Afghanistan, with particular emphasis on expanding economic and trade cooperation. Both sides exchanged views on ways to facilitate trade, improve commercial exchanges, and enhance broader economic ties between the two neighboring countries.

The foreign ministers also discussed regional and international developments, underlining the importance of cooperation and dialogue in addressing shared challenges.

During the call, Muttaqi stressed the determination of the Iranian nation to safeguard its independence, security, and national sovereignty in the face of terrorism and foreign interference. He condemned any external involvement in the internal affairs of countries in the region and reaffirmed Afghanistan’s opposition to such actions.

Muttaqi further expressed confidence that the Iranian government and people, through national unity, will continue to protect the country’s security and sovereignty.

The conversation highlighted ongoing diplomatic engagement between Kabul and Tehran, as both sides seek to strengthen political, economic, and regional cooperation amid evolving international circumstances.

FIFA has confirmed the full list of hosts and group compositions for the expanded FIFA Series 2026 bringing together 48 national teams from all six confederations in one of the most inclusive international initiatives in global football.

Under the expanded format announced in November 2025, the FIFA Series 2026 will feature 12 groups of four teams each, to be played during the international match windows in March and April. The participating teams represent almost a quarter of FIFA’s 211 Member Associations, underscoring the growing scale and global reach of the competition.

Eleven FIFA Member Associations will host the events, with Rwanda staging two groups, bringing the total number of groups to 12.

The series includes nine men’s groups and three women’s groups, with competitions taking place across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America.

The men’s groups will be hosted by Australia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Rwanda and Uzbekistan, while the women’s groups will be staged in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand.

FIFA said the line-up highlights the truly global nature of the FIFA Series and its commitment to supporting both men’s and women’s national teams.

All matches in the FIFA Series 2026 will be broadcast globally, improving access for fans worldwide and increasing exposure for participating national teams, particularly those from emerging football nations.

The competition brings together teams with a wide range of competitive profiles.

On the men’s side, participants range from established teams such as Australia, currently ranked 26th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, to developing nations like the US Virgin Islands, ranked 207th. In the women’s competition, teams include Brazil, ranked seventh globally, as well as Turks and Caicos Islands, ranked 194th.

Five men’s teams involved in the FIFA Series 2026 — Australia, Cabo Verde, Curaçao, New Zealand and Uzbekistan — have already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, adding competitive relevance to the development-focused tournament.

Beyond on-field competition, FIFA said the series also supports off-field development, giving host and participating associations valuable experience in event delivery, referee development, competition organisation and operational planning under conditions similar to major international tournaments.

FIFA added that the FIFA Series 2026 aligns with its Strategic Objectives for the Global Game 2023–2027, offering cross-confederation competition without adding pressure to the international match calendar, while promoting technical growth, organisational development and global exchange. Match schedules for all events will be announced at a later date.

MEN’S GROUPS

Australia (AFC)

Australia (host)
Cameroon
China PR
Curaçao

Azerbaijan (UEFA)

Azerbaijan (host)
Oman
Sierra Leone
St Lucia

Indonesia (AFC)

Bulgaria
Indonesia (host)
Solomon Islands
St Kitts and Nevis

Kazakhstan (UEFA)

Comoros
Kazakhstan (host)
Kuwait
Namibia

New Zealand (OFC)

Cabo Verde
Chile
Finland
New Zealand (host)

Puerto Rico (Concacaf)

American Samoa
Guam
Puerto Rico (host)
US Virgin Islands

Rwanda(CAF) – Group A

Estonia
Grenada
Kenya
Rwanda (host)

Rwanda (CAF) – Group B

Aruba
Liechtenstein
Macau
Tanzania

Uzbekistan (AFC)

Gabon
Trinidad and Tobago
Uzbekistan (host)
Venezuela

Match schedules for all FIFA Series 2026 events will be announced in due course.

Three drug traffickers were killed during an armed clash with Tajik border forces along the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, according to local Afghan authorities.

Ehsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for Badakhshan police, said the incident took place two nights ago when the individuals — residents of Khwahan district in Badakhshan province — were attempting to smuggle narcotics into Tajik territory.

Tajik border guards reportedly detected the group, which led to an exchange of gunfire between the two sides.

Kamgar added that based on information from the Khwahan District Police, the bodies of the three traffickers were handed over to Afghan border forces after the confrontation ended.

Authorities have not yet released details about the type or quantity of narcotics involved. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.