2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup: Future Eagles and South Sudan share spoils in six-goal thrilling opener

Nigeria’s Future Eagles began their campaign at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival with a 3-3 draw against South Sudan in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday.

The entertaining encounter saw both teams score three goals apiece, as Nigeria’s young side settled for a point in their first outing at the international youth competition.

Head coach Patrick Bassey’s team entered the match looking to make a positive start after arriving in Baku on Thursday ahead of the tournament, which brings together youth teams from across the world.

Nigeria travelled to Azerbaijan with a 14-player squad and six officials, with the team drawn in Group AD alongside South Sudan, Jordan, The Gambia, Cyprus and Pakistan.

The opening fixture was played under the competition’s distinctive eight-a-side format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves.

The format is designed to provide young players with more opportunities to compete internationally while exposing them to different playing styles and football cultures.

The draw means Nigeria and South Sudan each collected one point from their opening match as they turn their attention to the remaining group fixtures.

The Future Eagles are scheduled to face Jordan and The Gambia on Sunday before completing their group-stage programme against Cyprus and Pakistan on Monday.

Results from the opening phase will determine the performance tier in which each team competes in the next stage, ensuring that all participating countries continue playing beyond the initial group matches.

Nigeria will now look to build on the opening performance, improve their consistency and collect points in their remaining fixtures as they pursue a strong finish in the competition.

The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is taking place in Baku from October 22 to 31, with the tier finals scheduled for October 30.