FIFA is set to launch a historic U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, featuring a record 191 member associations. The tournament aims to provide international competitive opportunities for young players from across FIFA's membership. Over 3,000 players, coaches, and officials will attend the event, which will be played in October. The competition is designed to maximize playing opportunities and development for youngsters.
The U-15 World Cup will introduce a new format to youth international football, with matches played eight-a-side rather than the traditional 11-a-side format. Games will consist of two 20-minute halves. The tournament infrastructure can stage up to 20 matches simultaneously across multiple pitches. Almost 1,000 matches will be played across six matchdays. Each participating association will be represented by a delegation of 14 players and up to six staff members.
Eligible players must have been born in 2011 or 2012. The competition will continue through different performance tiers, rather than eliminating teams after an initial group phase. Results from the qualification stage will determine each team's placement in the subsequent tournament stage. This ensures every participant continues playing until the final matchday. Six performance tiers will determine the final classification of the participating teams.
The winner of Tier A will be officially crowned the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champion. The competition is open to all FIFA member associations, regardless of their size or footballing tradition. The initiative aims to address the lack of meaningful international competition available to young players from countries that often struggle to qualify for established FIFA tournaments.
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger stated that the tournament is intended to give young players greater exposure to international football, different playing styles, and cultures. The goal is to encourage member associations to invest further in youth development. The inaugural boys' edition will serve as the foundation for the expansion of the concept.
The Baku festival represents one of FIFA's largest-ever gatherings of youth teams. It provides a new international platform for players at an important stage of their development. The tournament will be hosted at the Hovsan Competition Complex and the iconic Crystal Hall in Baku. The first matches will be played from October 24, and the event will conclude on October 30.
FIFA plans to stage a girls' U-15 edition in 2027, before introducing separate boys' and girls' competitions for all member associations from 2028 onwards. With 191 nations involved, the event marks a significant milestone in FIFA's efforts to promote youth development and provide opportunities for young players worldwide.
Key points
- The tournament features a new format with eight-a-side matches and a tier-based competition structure.
- The event aims to provide international competitive opportunities for young players from across FIFA's membership.
- The inaugural boys' edition will serve as the foundation for the expansion of the concept, including a girls' U-15 edition in 2027.
