New Delhi, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India have been placed in Group K alongside Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos and Senegal for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in October.
The India U15 men’s team will play five matches across three days during the qualification stage at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
India will begin their campaign against Laos on October 24. They will then face Cameroon and Grenada in a double-header on October 25, with both matches scheduled on Pitch 1B.
The qualification stage will conclude for India with another double-header on October 26. They will take on Bahrain on Pitch 9A before facing Senegal on Pitch 8A.
The inaugural tournament is open to all FIFA Member Associations, with 191 national teams divided into 32 groups. A total of 943 matches will be played across 20 pitches over six competition days.
Matches at the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival will be played in an 8v8 format, featuring two 20-minute halves and a five-minute half-time interval. The playing area will measure 68 metres by 50 metres, while rolling substitutions will be permitted throughout the matches.
Participating teams are scheduled to arrive in Baku on October 22, followed by an official training day on October 23. The qualification stage will be held from October 24 to 26, with October 27 designated as a rest day.
The tournament stage will take place on October 28 and 29, followed by the tier finals on October 30.
India are currently holding a training camp at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. The team will also play international friendly matches at home before travelling to Azerbaijan, with the final squad comprising 14 players.
The inaugural U15 World Cup will feature boys’ teams from all FIFA Member Associations. The second edition, scheduled for 2027, will be exclusively for girls’ teams.
From 2028 onwards, all FIFA Member Associations will be invited to participate with both boys’ and girls’ U15 teams in two separate competitions.
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