The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026™ is set to get under way with the first matches to be played from 24 October 2026 in Azerbaijan, offering FIFA Member Associations of all sizes and with varying football traditions the opportunity to participate in a competition on the global stage.
This inaugural edition will pave the way for FIFA to establish the competition as a fixture of the international game, with the first girls’ tournament scheduled for next year. Both girls’ and boys’ tournaments are then planned to take place annually from 2028.
In line with the decision taken by the FIFA Council in December 2025, the competition is open to all FIFA Member Associations.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, emphasised the tournament’s transformative potential: “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. 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.”
Wenger is convinced that the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™ format will have a lasting impact on the lives of many talented boys and girls: “Football can truly unite the world in a very powerful way at youth level. 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.”
The competition will feature an innovative 8v8 format with 20-minute halves, designed to maximise player development and match experience. Truly demonstrating how football unites the world, nearly 1,000 games will be played across six matchdays at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, with the opening match and the tier finals on 30 October scheduled to take place at the iconic Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan’s capital city.
Key tournament details
Pitch dimensions: 68m × 47m, with full-size goals (7.32m × 2.44m).
Delegation size: 14 players and up to six staff members per team.
Player eligibility: Players born in 2011 or 2012.
Expected participant numbers: More than 3,000 young players, coaches and officials.
Format: Teams will first compete in groups that provide diverse sporting and regional representation. Results from the group (qualification) stage will determine placement in the second (tournament) stage.
Qualification stage: Four to five matches in a round-robin format.
Tournament stage: Four to five additional matches per team, determined by results and subsequent tier placement.
Ranking: A simple pre-tournament ranking was used to support balanced group formation and appropriately competitive fixtures throughout the tournament, helping to provide the best possible development experience for players. It combines senior national-team performance with recent youth national-team participation and results, reflecting both the overall football strength of each Member Association and the activity and competitiveness of its youth pathway.
The second phase will consist of six performance tiers, based on qualification-stage results. 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.
FIFA has implemented a comprehensive match schedule designed to balance competitive intensity with player welfare. The tournament infrastructure will support 20 simultaneous matches across multiple pitches at the Hovsan Competition Complex, with up to ten games scheduled per pitch daily.
The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival addresses a fundamental challenge in international football: providing meaningful competitive opportunities for nations in which qualifying for FIFA competitions remains an enormous challenge. The tournament enables every Member Association to experience international competition, benchmark itself against counterparts from around the world and inspire the next generation of players, coaches and technical staff.
Approximately 250 volunteers will play an active role in delivering the first edition of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival, helping to bring this historic football event to life. The Volunteer Programme for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026, organised by FIFA and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, was launched on 10 September. Registration is open online: candidates should log on to volunteer.fifa.com and select the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival tournament.
Brand identity - one grid, a thousand stars, one World Cup festival
Inspired by the duality of playing fields and festivals, the visual identity of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 creates a dynamic and colourful universal playground. More than just a pattern, the grid represents a vibrant mosaic of cultures, energy and shared experiences. Every square tells a story, every colour reflects youthful freedom, and every circle stands for the heart, passion and
potential of a future star. Together, these elements form a powerful symbol of unity, diversity and the collective spirit that makes the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival a truly global gathering.
With Azerbaijan having previously been appointed to co-host the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027™, staging the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in the country provides a sense of strategic continuity and an opportunity to unite the global football community at a unique tournament that gives every talent a chance to participate.