Azerbaijan Awarded Hosting Rights for Inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival

ZURICH: In a landmark development for youth football, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has officially awarded the hosting rights for the first-ever FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival to Azerbaijan. This newly established global tournament is scheduled to take place from October 22 to October 31, 2026, marking a significant milestone in FIFA’s talent development ecosystem.

Strategic Roadmap for Boys and Girls Youth Tournaments Announced

The inaugural 2026 edition in Azerbaijan will feature U-15 boys’ national teams from all FIFA member associations. Outlining its long-term vision for gender parity in youth sports, the global football governing body announced that the 2027 edition will be exclusively dedicated to girls’ national teams. Furthermore, starting from 2028, FIFA will transition into organizing separate, standalone annual global tournaments for both boys and girls.

Azerbaijan’s Growing Football Portfolio and FIFA ASEAN Cup Approval

This assignment further cements Azerbaijan’s standing as an emerging hub for international football, alongside other key regulatory approvals passed by the council:

Key Takeaways from the FIFA Council Decisions:

• Dual Hosting Honors: In addition to the 2026 U-15 event, Azerbaijan has already been confirmed as the co-host for the prestigious FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027.

• FIFA ASEAN Cup Regulations: The Bureau has formally approved the official regulations for the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup to strengthen regional football dynamics.

• Inaugural ASEAN Tourney: The first edition of the highly anticipated ASEAN regional tournament is locked to take place later this year between September and October.