BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 29. FIFA President
Gianni Infantino has thanked President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
for supporting FIFA and hosting the first-ever FIFA U-15 World Cup
and Festival 2026 in Baku.
Infantino made the remarks in a post on his Instagram account
following his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku.
“I was honoured to meet with the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, in Baku to thank him for supporting FIFA
and for hosting the world at the first-ever FIFA U-15 World Cup &
Festival 2026!” Infantino wrote.
He noted that President Ilham Aliyev understands the role
football can play in providing opportunities for young people and
bringing communities together.
Infantino also said he was pleased to have President Ilham
Aliyev’s backing as FIFA continues its football development
projects with the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan
(AFFA), headed by its President Rovshan Najaf.
The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival will kick off in
Azerbaijan on October 24, 2026. This new FIFA tournament will bring
together young football talents from around the globe and offer all
member associations the opportunity to compete at the international
level. Starting in 2028, the tournament is scheduled to be held
annually for both boys and girls.
The competition will feature an innovative 8-a-side format, with
matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Approximately 1,000
matches are scheduled to take place over six matchdays at the
Hovsan Sports Complex in Baku. The opening match and the final,
scheduled for October 30, will be held at the Baku Crystal
Hall.
More than 3,000 young footballers, coaches, and officials are
expected to participate in the tournament. Teams will initially
compete in a group stage, after which they will be divided into six
performance levels for the second stage. All teams will continue
playing until the final day, and the winner of Level A will be
crowned the champion of the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival.
A primary goal of the tournament is to provide FIFA member
nations with experience in international competition and to foster
the development of young footballers. Approximately 250 volunteers
are expected to assist in organizing the event. Given that
Azerbaijan, jointly with Uzbekistan, will host the FIFA U-20 World
Cup in 2027, hosting this U-15 tournament also ensures continuity
in the country's efforts to organize international football
competitions.
