Azerbaijan hosts inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival

The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 22 to 31, 2026. The tournament features approximately 189 national teams participating in a unique 8-a-side format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves.

As part of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme, the event is designed to provide young players with maximum international exposure. The competition follows a two-phase structure: a group stage where no teams are eliminated, followed by a second phase where teams are distributed into six performance tiers (Levels A through F) based on their results. Only the winner of Level A is crowned the official world champion.

National teams from around the globe, including Ghana, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, Togo, Algeria, Nigeria, India, Venezuela, and Malawi, have arrived or are traveling to participate. The tournament aims to foster tactical creativity and decision-making in young athletes through a high-density schedule of matches.