Azerbaijan and Türkiye enjoyed emphatic opening victories as FIFA’s inaugural Under-15 World Cup & Festival got under way in Baku on Saturday 24 October.
Running until 30 October, the boys’ competition brings together 189 national teams, including all four UK Home Nations. For 78 participating football associations, it marks their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup at any age level, in either men’s or women’s football.
The tournament takes a different approach to the familiar World Cup format, placing player development and international experience at its heart. Teams play eight-a-side on smaller pitches, with two 20-minute halves, rolling substitutions and kick-ins replacing throw-ins. Players born in 2011 or 2012 are eligible.
An initial round-robin qualification stage, held from 24–26 October, determines which of six performance tiers teams enter for the second phase on 28–30 October. Nobody is eliminated: every team continues playing, with the Tier A winners crowned overall champions. Nearly 1,000 matches are planned, mostly at Baku’s Hovsan Competition Complex, with the opening showcase and tier finals at Crystal Hall.
Hosts Azerbaijan delighted supporters at Crystal Hall by beating Timor-Leste 6–0. Müşfiq Zamanov and Həsən Məhmədov scored twice apiece, with Yusif Əlizadə and Asif Allahverdizadə also on target.
Azerbaijan celebrate a goal in their opening game of the FIFA U15 World Cup in Baku, 24 Oct. 2026. Photo © AFFA
Their remaining Group AF fixtures are against Andorra and Australia on Sunday 25 October, followed by Israel and Haiti on Monday 26 October.
Türkiye began even more emphatically, defeating Djibouti 11–1. Coached by Suat Tokat, the young Crescent-Stars face Sudan and Afghanistan on Sunday, before completing their Group AE programme against Sierra Leone and Russia on Monday.
All four Home Nations are also taking part. England opened with a 4–0 win over Nicaragua, with Isaac Allen scoring twice. Their other Group C opponents are Montenegro, Cambodia, the Republic of Ireland and Zimbabwe.
Wales drew 0–0 with Bangladesh and will also face Indonesia, Burundi, Fiji and Portugal in Group G. Scotland began with a 1–1 draw against Latvia, with Bulgaria, Gabon and Lesotho completing their first-round opposition
Northern Ireland enjoyed a high-scoring start, beating New Caledonia 7–2. Their remaining Group AA opponents are Eritrea, Antigua and Barbuda, Burkina Faso and Lebanon.
Matches are available to watch free through FIFA+ on DAZN. A girls’ edition will follow in 2027, with annual boys’ and girls’ tournaments planned from 2028.
