By OkayGoal
The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026TM will begin in Azerbaijan on 24 October 2026, giving every FIFA Member Association the chance to compete internationally regardless of its size or football tradition.
The tournament is open to all FIFA Member Associations, following a decision by the FIFA Council in December 2025. A girls edition is scheduled for next year, with boys and girls competitions planned to be held annually from 2028.
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsene Wenger said the event would help young players gain international experience and develop through regular competition.
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.
By bringing teams from across the world together at U-15 level, we can give players meaningful matches, expose them to different styles and football cultures, and help them learn and develop through competition.
The competition will use an 8v8 format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Nearly 1,000 games will be played over six matchdays at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku.
The opening match and the tier finals on 30 October will be staged at the Crystal Hall in Azerbaijans capital.
Six tiers guarantee matches for every team
After the qualification phase, teams will be placed into six performance tiers according to their results. All participants will remain in competition until the final matchday, ensuring that every side has a continuing programme of meaningful matches.
The winners of each tier will be crowned, while the team that finishes first in Tier A will be named FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champions.
FIFA has designed the match schedule to combine competitive demands with player welfare. The facilities at the Hovsan Competition Complex will allow 20 matches to be played simultaneously across several pitches, with as many as ten games scheduled on each pitch per day.
The tournament is intended to address the difficulty faced by nations for whom qualification for FIFA competitions remains a major challenge. It will allow every Member Association to experience international football, compare its level with teams from across the world and inspire young players, coaches and technical staff.
About 250 volunteers will help stage the first edition. FIFA and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan launched the tournaments Volunteer Programme on 10 September, with registration available online through volunteer.fifa.com by selecting the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival tournament.
The events visual identity is built around a grid inspired by the combination of football pitches and festivals. Its coloured squares represent different cultures and shared experiences, while circles symbolise the heart, passion and potential of future players.
Azerbaijans previous appointment as co-host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027TM provides strategic continuity and gives the country an opportunity to welcome the global football community for a tournament designed to offer every talent a chance to participate.