FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan

The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival commenced in Baku, Azerbaijan, running from October 24 to October 30, 2026. The tournament features approximately 189 member associations and over 3,000 participants, including players, coaches, and officials, competing in an eight-a-side format with two 20-minute halves and unlimited substitutions.

As part of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme, the event serves as both a competitive championship and a developmental festival incorporating life-skills programs and educational zones for players born in 2011 and 2012. Following the initial group stages, teams are placed into six different performance tiers to ensure continued competitive play; the winner of Tier A will be crowned the first U-15 World Cup champion.

Matches are held at venues including the Baku Crystal Hall and the Hovsan Competition Complex. The official opening ceremony was attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.

Early match results include Azerbaijan defeating Timor-Leste 6-0, Ghana defeating Uzbekistan 4-1, Italy winning 5-1 against Turkmenistan, and Mexico beating Hungary 3-1. Namibia recorded an 8-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe, while Colombia defeated Eswatini 6-1. In Group K, India secured a 4-2 victory over Laos and a 2-1 victory against Cameroon. Additional early results include Bolivia securing a 1-0 win over Seychelles and maintaining an undefeated streak with a win against Tahiti, while Cuba secured a 1-0 debut victory against Togo. Other notable performances include South Africa securing a 13-1 win against Anguilla, while São Tomé e Príncipe has faced heavy defeats against Namibia, Poland, and Bermuda.