FIFA U-15 World Cup format: groups and qualification explained
FIFA's inaugural U-15 World Cup and Festival uses an 8v8 format with group and tier stages.
The first FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival was held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24 to 30 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The inaugural edition took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24 to 30 October 2026.
- Players must have been born in 2011 or 2012.
- Matches were played 8v8 with two 20-minute halves.
- Teams played four to five group matches before moving to tier-based stages.
- Six winners were crowned, with the Tier A winner named champion.
FIFA’s new U-15 World Cup and Festival will feature nearly 1,000 games in its inaugural edition, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24 to 30 October 2026.
The international youth football competition is organised by FIFA for national teams of players up to the age of 15, with eligibility limited to those born in 2011 or 2012.
FIFA’s Council approved the U-15 tournament for boys and girls in December 2025 as part of a stated commitment to promote youth football.
How the competition works
Teams first compete in groups that provide diverse sporting and regional representation, with all groups including a minimum of three confederations. The qualification stage consists of four to five matches in a round-robin format.
Results from this stage determine placement in the second tournament stage, which consists of six performance tiers based on qualification-stage results. Every team continues playing through to the final matchday, ensuring a consistent and meaningful competitive experience for all participants.
The winners of each tier are crowned, and the team that comes out on top in Tier A is honoured as FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival champions.
Match format and participation
Matches are played in an 8v8 format with two 20-minute halves on a pitch measuring 68 metres by 47 metres, with full-size goals. Each team has a delegation size of 14 players and up to six staff members.
Some 3,000 participants will compete across six matchdays, with 20 simultaneous games taking place at any given time. Each team will play a minimum of nine matches to support the development of the best players.
Context and what comes next
By comparison, the recently expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 witnessed 104 matches played over a six-week period.
The inaugural U-15 edition is separate from the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which will be the 21st edition of the annual international men’s youth football tournament and is to be held in Qatar in November as the second edition of the annual cycle adopted by FIFA and the second to be played in a 48-team format.
Key facts about the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival
Detail | Value |
|---|---|
Edition | Inaugural |
Host city | Baku, Azerbaijan |
Dates | 24 to 30 October 2026 |
Matches | 950 |
Tiers | 6 |
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