Azerbaijan to host first FIFA U-15 World Cup

The FIFA Council Bureau has appointed Azerbaijan as the host country for the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026.

This is reported on the official website of the international federation.

The first tournament in this format in history will take place from October 22 to 31, 2026. The decision was made by the FIFA Council in December of last year as part of the organization's focus on the development of youth football.

The inaugural edition will be open to youth national teams of all FIFA member associations. The second tournament, in 2027, will be held among girls' teams. Starting in 2028, all national associations will be invited to participate simultaneously in two separate competitions — for boys and for girls.

As FIFA notes, the choice of Azerbaijan was made following a comprehensive evaluation conducted by the federation's administration and was driven by the presence in the country of world-class sports and general infrastructure capable of hosting thousands of children and accompanying staff in a single location.

In addition, Azerbaijan had previously been appointed as one of the hosts of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027. According to the federation's assessment, hosting the first FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in the country ensures strategic continuity.

The tournament dates — from October 22 to 31, 2026 — were confirmed by the FIFA Council Bureau taking into account consultations with the host country and the existing international competition calendar.