FIFA’s six-tier under-15 format keeps every team playing to the final day
FIFA’s inaugural under-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku uses three qualification days followed by three tournament days across six tiers. Every team keeps playing until the final day. The format includes rolling substitutions and kick-ins, while a girls-only edition is planned for 2027 and separate annual boys’ and girls’ events from 2028. Most matches are played at the Hövsan Competition Complex.
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Six tiers after qualification
In Baku, Azerbaijan, FIFA’s inaugural under-15 World Cup and Festival keeps every participating team playing until the final day. Three days of qualification are followed by a three-day tournament stage divided into six tiers. Teams continue competing within that structure, with the winner of Tier A to become the first champion. The title will be decided at Baku Crystal Hall.[1], [2]
The competition runs until 30 October, with approximately 1,000 matches expected over the programme. Most are being played at the Hovsan Competition Complex, built for the event by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan with government support. FIFA sets out the six-tier stage alongside the qualification schedule and the commitment to keep all teams in action through the final day.[1]
Rules for the youth event
On the pitch, teams play eight-a-side on smaller fields, with two halves of 20 minutes each. Rolling substitutions allow players to leave the game and return, while kick-ins are used to restart play from the touchline. These are the playing rules described by FIFA for the youth tournament, whose teams move from qualification into the tiered second stage of the competition.[1]
Alongside the matches, the programme includes educational activities, meetings with former players and awareness campaigns. Boys’ teams representing 189 member associations are participating in this first edition, and 78 of those associations have never appeared at a FIFA World Cup at any age level. More than 3,000 players and officials are involved; that total covers staff as well as the young footballers.[1]
Girls’ editions on the calendar
For the next edition, FIFA plans a girls-only event in 2027, open to all 211 member associations. From 2028, the announced programme calls for separate boys’ and girls’ competitions every year. These are future editions in the organiser’s schedule. The current Baku event is the boys’ tournament, with qualification followed by the six-tier stage and matches continuing for all teams until the final day.[1]
The event opened at Baku Crystal Hall with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev attending. Azerbaijan football association president Rovshan Najaf and FIFA Council members were also present. All 211 member associations had been invited to the first edition, which began in Baku on 24 October and is continuing through its announced qualification and tournament stages; matches end on 30 October.[1]
