FIFA launches Under-15 World Cup in Baku with every team guaranteed a full tournament

From the Azerbaijani capital Baku, FIFA has opened a new chapter in international football with the inaugural Under-15 World Cup – a competition designed to expand opportunity rather than eliminate teams.

The scale of the event appeared almost impossible on paper. It features 189 national teams and nearly 1,000 matches, with the tournament infrastructure capable of staging 20 games simultaneously. The concept became reality after a historic decision by the FIFA Council in December 2025.

“Football is for everyone,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said at the opening ceremony, summarising the philosophy behind the project. More than 3,000 players and officials are in Baku, including representatives of 78 associations taking part in an official FIFA competition for the first time.

Arsene Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development and one of the project’s leading figures, explained the thinking behind the tournament: “Talent is everywhere, but opportunities are not equal.”

The aim is to give a child from the Pacific islands or the forests of Africa the same chance to test themselves against different football cultures as a youngster from Madrid or Munich.

Why Baku?

Azerbaijan was selected in June 2026, with its existing infrastructure also making it suitable to co-host the Under-20 World Cup in 2027.

Most matches are being played at the large Hovsan complex, which can accommodate 20 games at once. Crystal Hall is hosting the opening and final ceremonies. FIFA is covering the travel and accommodation costs of all delegations, helping smaller associations take part.

The tournament is built around participation and player welfare. No team is eliminated, meaning every side remains in competition until the final day.

The group stage runs from 24-26 October, with each team playing four to five matches. From 28-30 October, the teams are divided into six levels, from A to F, according to their results. The winner of level A is crowned world champion.

The format uses eight-a-side football, two 20-minute halves, a 68×47-metre pitch, full-size goals, unlimited substitutions and kick-ins instead of throw-ins. Organisers expect between 950 and 1,000 matches to be played in one week.

A global football festival

Since the event began on 24 October 2026, 279 matches were played during the first two days. FIFA estimates that about 700 players have travelled outside their countries for the first time to compete.

Teams from all six continental confederations have secured at least one victory, reflecting the relative balance created by the format. Away from the pitch, some squads have danced and played music around the Hovsan Sports Complex, adding a cultural and social dimension to the event.

The tournament is intended to narrow the opportunity gap between developed and developing football nations, with educational programmes and cultural exchanges taking place alongside the matches. Unlike the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups, which use qualification and direct elimination, the emphasis here is on broad participation.

The 2027 edition will be for girls. From 2028, separate boys’ and girls’ tournaments will be held annually. For FIFA, Baku 2026 is the starting point of a new approach to youth development, giving children international experience and the chance to believe that talent can become a pathway to success.