Overview
- FIFA announced on Thursday that Azerbaijan will host the inaugural U-15 World Cup & Festival from October 22 to 31, 2026 and that all FIFA member associations are invited to enter boys’ teams for the first edition.
- FIFA’s press office said its wording allows participation by any member, and international reporting cites DPA that Russia and Belarus are included among teams now eligible to compete.
- The tournament is part of a phased plan: the 2026 event is for boys, a girls-only instalment follows in 2027, and from 2028 all members may enter separate boys’ and girls’ U-15 competitions.
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino has publicly pushed to lift youth-level restrictions, but UEFA leaders and several national associations have previously opposed easing the bans on Russian teams.
- The decision changes FIFA’s post-2022 approach to Russian participation and could prompt member associations, hosts and governments to weigh political, safety and reputational risks before confirming entries.