FIFA U-15 World Cup 2026: Record competition with 189 teams in Baku

The FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 will kick off in Baku with Infantino in attendance. The event will conclude on October 30 after a record-breaking competition that will host 189 member federations. Azerbaijan, the host country, will hold most matches at the Hovsan Sports Complex and the finals at the Crystal Hall in the city.

Innovative 8 vs. 8 Format

The competition will take place in an innovative 8 vs. 8 format, with two halves of 20 minutes each, on a 68x47-meter field. Close to 1,000 matches will be played with almost 3,000 players born in 2011 and 2012. The infrastructure will allow up to 20 simultaneous matches on several fields, with 10 games per day.

Competitiveness and Opportunities for All Teams

The objective of this mega World Cup is to provide competitive opportunities to nations that struggle to qualify for FIFA competitions. All teams will compete until the end across six levels of performance. The event aims to promote the exchange of experiences among players from around the world.

Ambitious Project and Future Expansion

In 2027, the same tournament will be held for women's football, and the plan is to hold it annually for both male and female categories starting in 2028. The 8 vs. 8 format, endorsed by Arsène Wenger, aims to bring more dynamism and favor technically less structured teams.

The investment in this tournament has been made possible through close collaboration with the local government. At the end of the competition, a detailed report on the event will be provided. The Spanish team, based in Baku, is gearing up to face Chile, Congo, Tajikistan, Barbados, and Kuwait with a squad made up of young talents from various clubs.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Festival Sub-15 FIFA 2026: Competición récord con 189 selecciones en Bakú