The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has received an invitation from the Chinese Football Association for the Women’s National Football Team, the Scorchers, to participate in the Yongchuan International Tournament as part of preparations for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
FAM President Fleetwood Haiya has confirmed to the Chinese Football Association that the Scorchers will be available for the tournament, which will feature four teams: China, Thailand, Albania and Malawi.
According to Haiya, the tournament will give the Scorchers an opportunity to test themselves ahead of the World Cup in Brazil.
“This is a very important tournament for us because it will give our girls a chance to compete against strong teams and see where we stand before the World Cup,” Haiya said.
The tournament is expected to be held early in 2027, although the exact dates have not yet been confirmed.
The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will kick off on June 24, 2027, which means the competition will give the Scorchers a chance to test themselves against international opposition in the months leading up to the global showpiece.
China launched the invitational tournament in 1998, which sees four teams compete either in a round-robin or knockout format.
Football analyst Andrew Kumwenda says the invitation is a big boost for the team and a sign that Malawi’s women’s football is gaining international recognition.
“Playing against China, Thailand and Albania will expose the Scorchers to different styles of play and this is exactly the kind of preparation Malawi needs if we are to compete well at the World Cup,” Kumwenda said.
