Liechtenstein pulled off a surprise 1-0 win over Tanzania to book a place in the Group B final of the FIFA Series 2026 in Kigali. Played at Kigali Pelé Stadium on Thursday, the encounter saw Tanzania dominate possession and dictate tempo for large spells, but their lack of cutting edge in the final third proved costly. ALSO READ: What you should know as FIFA Series 2026 kicks off in Kigali Liechtenstein, content to sit deep and absorb pressure, executed their game plan to perfection and struck decisively on the counter. The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute when Ferhat Saglam finished off a swift transition, punishing Tanzania’s defensive lapse. Despite continued pressure, Tanzania failed to find a way past a compact and well-organised Liechtenstein backline, as the European side held firm to seal a surprise victory and set up a Group B final date with Aruba. Jaybrien's brace powers Aruba past Macau Earlier in the day, Aruba delivered an emphatic attacking display to dismantle Macau 4-1 in the opening Group B fixture. Fermina Carilto set the tone early, opening the scoring in the 5th minute before Romano Jaybrien struck twice in quick succession (13’, 16’) to put Aruba firmly in control. Macau nearly responded in the 29th minute when Pan Si Kit connected with a powerful header, but Aruba goalkeeper Lentink Matthew produced a stunning diving save to deny what looked like a certain goal. Aruba maintained their dominance after the break, with Conner Van Kilsdonk adding a fourth in the 65th minute. Macau grabbed a late consolation goal through Leong Ka Hang in the 88th minute, but the outcome was in vain. Following the opening match, the tournament officially got underway with a brief opening ceremony, highlighted by a cultural performance from Rwanda’s national troupe Urukerereza, adding colour and local flair to the international football showcase. The results set up an unlikely but intriguing final between Aruba and Liechtenstein—two of the smallest nations in international football. In terms of scale, Liechtenstein is one of the world’s tiniest countries, covering about 160 square kilometres with a population of roughly 41,000 people. Aruba, though slightly larger at around 180 square kilometers, has a population just over 100,000. Attention now shifts to Group A matches scheduled for Friday at Amahoro Stadium, where hosts Rwanda will take on Grenada at 21:00 CAT, following the earlier clash between Kenya and Estonia at 18:00 CAT.
