Baku, September 18, AZERTAC
Key details have been unveiled for the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026, to be held in Azerbaijan for the first time from October 24 to 30.
Co-organized by FIFA and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), the prestigious tournament will mark the beginning of a new tradition in the international football calendar.
The tournament, which is open to all FIFA member associations, is expected to bring together more than 3,000 young footballers, coaches and officials from different countries. Nearly 1,000 matches will be played over six matchdays at the Hovsan Olympic Sports Complex, while the opening game and the October 30 final will take place at Baku Crystal Hall.
To support player development and provide greater match experience, the tournament will feature an innovative 8v8 format, with two 20-minute halves. Matches will be played on 68 × 47-meter pitches with full-size goals measuring 7.32 × 2.44 meters. The competition will be open to players born in 2011 and 2012.
The format ensures that no team is eliminated at an early stage. Following the classification matches, every team will continue playing through to the final matchday, ensuring a consistent and meaningful competitive experience for all participants. The winners of each tier will be crowned, and the team that come out on top in Tier A will be honoured as FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champions.
Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s Chief Global Football Development, explained the logic as follows: "Talent exists everywhere, but young players do not always have the same opportunities to test themselves internationally. This tournament is about giving them that opportunity. 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... Bringing young players together from different countries and cultures gives them an experience that goes beyond competition, while also encouraging Member Associations to continue investing in their development." FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously spoken of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival being “fundamental in FIFA’s quest to give every talent a chance all over the world”, while providing “yet another example of how FIFA reinvests in the game”.
Some 250 volunteers will be involved in organizing the event, with applications already open on the FIFA volunteer website.
The second edition, in 2027, is set to feature girls’ teams, and from 2028 onwards it is planned that all Member Associations will be invited to participate with both their boys’ and girls’ U-15 teams in two separate competitions.