Baku:The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 is set to commence in Baku, Azerbaijan, featuring participation from 189 FIFA Member Associations. Notably, 78 of these associations will be making their debut in a FIFA World Cup competition.
According to Wam, the event aims to merge international football competition with educational activities, meetings with FIFA Legends, and awareness campaigns. This initiative is part of FIFA's strategy to nurture young talent and provide global opportunities for aspiring players.
Roberto Grassi, FIFA's Head of Youth Tournaments, described the competition as an ambitious global project. He emphasized FIFA's dedication to offering opportunities for younger generations and highlighted the collaboration with the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) in organizing this inaugural edition.
The six-day competition will not include knockout rounds, allowing all teams to play multiple international matches. It will consist of a qualification stage and a tournament stage across six tiers, with the Tier A winner being crowned champion. Matches will be played in an eight-a-side format with rolling substitutions and smaller pitches.
This new festival-style tournament format was approved by the FIFA Council in December 2025 for both boys and girls. The 2026 boys' edition will feature 189 associations, while the first girls' tournament is scheduled for 2027, with annual events planned from 2028.
The matches will take place at the Hovsan Competition Complex, with the opening ceremony and finals at Baku Crystal Hall. All teams will be housed in a single Athletes' Village. The event is organized by FIFA and AFFA, supported by the Azerbaijani government.
Palestine and Lebanon are among the 78 associations making their FIFA World Cup debut, joining 76 others from around the world.