Uganda will take part in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, with games slated to take place between 24th and 30th October 2026 in Azerbaijan.
In the draws that were conducted recently, Uganda is pooled in Group U with countries like Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Kyrgyz Republic and Tonga.
The first edition is exclusively for boys and will pave the way for FIFA to establish the competition as a fixture of the international game, with the first girls’ tournament scheduled for next year. Both girls’ and boys’ tournaments are then planned to take place annually from 2028.
The tournament is open to all the Member Associations of FIFA, and it is in line with the decision taken by the FIFA Council in December 2025.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, emphasised the tournament’s transformative potential.
“Talent exists everywhere, but young players do not always have the same opportunities to test themselves internationally. This tournament is about providing them with that opportunity. By bringing teams from across the world together at U-15 level, we can give players meaningful matches, expose them to different styles and football cultures, and help them learn and develop through competition.”
Wenger is convinced that the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival format will have a lasting impact on the lives of many talented boys and girls.
“Football can truly unite the world in a very powerful way at youth level. Bringing young players together from different countries and cultures gives them an experience that goes beyond competition, while also encouraging Member Associations to continue investing in their development.”
The competition will be played in an 8v8 format with each game lasting 40 minutes, designed to maximise player development and match experience, and nearly 1000 games will be played across six matchdays at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku.
Key tournament details
Pitch dimensions: 68m × 47m, with full-size goals (7.32m × 2.44m).
Delegation size: 14 players and up to six staff members per team.
Player eligibility: Players born in 2011 or 2012.
Expected participant numbers: More than 3,000 young players, coaches and officials.
Format: Teams will first compete in groups that provide diverse sporting and regional representation. Results from the group (qualification) stage will determine placement in the second (tournament) stage.
Qualification stage: Four to five matches in a round-robin format.
Tournament stage: Four to five additional matches per team, determined by results and subsequent tier placement.
Ranking: A simple pre-tournament ranking was used to support balanced group formation and appropriately competitive fixtures throughout the tournament, helping to provide the best possible development experience for players. It combines senior national-team performance with recent youth national-team participation and results, reflecting both the overall football strength of each Member Association and the activity and competitiveness of its youth pathway.
The second phase will consist of six performance tiers, based on qualification-stage results. Every team will continue playing through to the final matchday, ensuring a consistent and meaningful competitive experience for all participants. The winners of each tier will be crowned, and the team that comes out on top in Tier A will be honoured as FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champions.
