FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival to make history with inaugural edition in Azerbaijan

The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026™ will be held in Azerbaijan from October 24 to 30, bringing together youth teams from FIFA’s 211 Member Associations for a new global competition designed to expand international opportunities for young players.

The tournament, which is open to all FIFA Member Associations, will be staged in Baku and feature an innovative 8v8 format aimed at maximising playing time, competitive exposure and player development.

More than 3,000 players, coaches and officials are expected to participate, with almost 1,000 matches scheduled across six matchdays at the Hovsan Competition Complex. The opening match and the tier finals on October 30 will be played at the iconic Crystal Hall in Baku.

FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger said the tournament would provide young players from different football backgrounds with valuable opportunities to compete internationally.

“Talent exists everywhere, but young players do not always have the same opportunities to test themselves internationally. This tournament is about providing them with that opportunity,” Wenger said.

He added that bringing players together from different countries and football cultures would contribute to their development while strengthening youth football pathways around the world.

The competition will feature teams made up of players born in 2011 or 2012, with each delegation consisting of 14 players and up to six staff members.

Teams will initially compete in a qualification stage involving four to five round-robin matches. Their results will determine placement in one of six performance tiers for the tournament phase, where they will play a further four to five matches.

Every team will remain involved until the final matchday, with the winners of each tier crowned. The winner of Tier A will be recognised as the overall FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champion.

The 8v8 matches will be played on pitches measuring 68m by 47m, while retaining full-size goals. Each match will consist of two 20-minute halves.

FIFA said the tournament has been structured to give countries that traditionally face difficulties qualifying for major FIFA competitions the chance to experience regular international competition, assess their youth development against teams from other regions and create opportunities for their players and technical staff.

A ranking system combining senior national-team performances with recent youth participation and results has been used to create balanced groups and competitive fixtures.

Around 250 volunteers will support the delivery of the inaugural tournament, with the volunteer programme launched on September 10 by FIFA and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan.

The boys’ edition in Azerbaijan will be followed by the first FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival for girls in 2027, with both boys’ and girls’ tournaments planned to become annual events from 2028.

Azerbaijan’s selection as the host of the inaugural edition also provides continuity ahead of its role as co-host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027™, further strengthening the country’s involvement in FIFA’s youth football competitions.