All 54 African nations to make history with 100% participation at FIFA U-15 World Cup

Africa is set to achieve unprecedented representation at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026™, with all 54 FIFA Member Associations from the continent confirmed to participate in the historic youth competition in Azerbaijan.

The tournament, which will run from 24 to 30 October 2026, is open to every FIFA Member Association, regardless of its size, footballing history or previous record in international competitions.

For Africa, that decision has created a unique opportunity for every one of its 54 nations to take part on the global stage at the same youth tournament.

The unprecedented participation means traditional African football powerhouses will be joined by nations that have had fewer opportunities to compete regularly at major international youth tournaments.

Among the participating countries are Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, South Africa, Tunisia and DR Congo, alongside emerging and developing football nations from across the continent.

The full list comprises South Africa, Malawi, Algeria, Zimbabwe, Guinea-Bissau, DR Congo, Tunisia, Congo, Morocco, Liberia, Burundi, Ethiopia, Gabon, Lesotho, Angola, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Senegal, Benin, Eswatini, Botswana, Mali, Guinea, Mauritius, Egypt, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Libya, Seychelles, Ghana, Comoros, Tanzania, Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Rwanda, Chad, Kenya, Niger, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Togo, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, The Gambia, Nigeria, South Sudan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Sudan.

The format has been designed specifically to maximise participation and player development. The competition will be played in an 8v8 format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves.

Teams will first compete in a qualification stage before being placed into six performance tiers according to their results.

Every team will continue playing through to the final matchday, ensuring that participation does not end after an early group-stage exit.

FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger has highlighted the importance of giving every nation the opportunity to measure itself against teams from different football cultures.

“When you compete in football, you want to know how good you are. The only way to know how good you are is to give everybody a chance to do that and compete with everybody else,” Wenger said.

He also believes the increased number of games and the 8v8 format can help reduce the development gap between established football nations and smaller associations.

“I’m convinced that the more you have experiences with the ball, the more you experience game situations the better it is for your development,” Wenger explained.

“It can reduce a bit the difference between the smaller countries and the bigger countries. It can allow you, as well, to play more games.”

The African contingent will therefore have the chance to test its young players against opposition from every corner of the world, while also creating opportunities for coaches and technical staff to exchange experiences and assess different approaches to youth development.

The inaugural boys’ tournament in Azerbaijan will be followed by the first FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival for girls in 2027, with FIFA planning to stage both competitions annually from 2028.

With all 54 African Member Associations involved in the first edition, the tournament represents a landmark moment for youth football on the continent and gives an entire generation of young African players the opportunity to experience international competition on a global stage.