Baku, Azerbaijan, will host the inaugural edition of FIFA’s new global development program, the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival.
The event will take place from October 24 to 30, 2026, and will feature 191 national youth teams from around the world.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Our women’s national team continues its preparations
This is a new FIFA initiative aimed at giving all member associations the opportunity to participate in an international tournament, even in countries that rarely qualify for global tournaments.
Eligible players were born in 2011 or 2012. Each team’s roster for the tournament will consist of 14 players.
Matches will be played 8-on-8 rather than with the traditional 11-player teams. Each game will last 40 minutes (two 20-minute halves) and will be played on a smaller field.
Cyprus was drawn into Group AD and will face Nigeria, The Gambia, Jordan, Pakistan, and South Sudan in the first round.
Cyprus
Match Schedule Saturday, October
24 Cyprus – Jordan
Sunday, October 25
Pakistan – Cyprus
Gambia – Cyprus
Monday, October 26:
Cyprus vs. South Sudan
; Cyprus vs. Nigeria
Upon completion of the qualifying round, all teams will advance to the second phase of the tournament, playing additional matches through the final day of the tournament, regardless of their standings.
Format:
The tournament is divided into two phases:
1. Qualifying Phase (October 24–26)
Teams are divided into 32 groups of six or five teams, and the corresponding matches are played.
2. Tournament Stage (October 28–30)
Based on the results of the first phase, the teams are ranked into six divisions. All teams continue to compete until the final day of the tournament. A winner is crowned in each division, and the winner of Division A is crowned champion of the 2026 FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival.
