The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026™ saw the introduction of a groundbreaking format designed specifically for a tournament where the main aim is to help players develop and participate, rather than simply win. Coaches have welcomed the innovative changes, saying they give players more opportunities to play and produce a quicker, more intense game which is ideal for their development.

Beyond the new playing format, the festival reflects FIFA's wider ambition to create better development opportunities for young players around the world. Arsène Wenger, FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, emphasised the importance of putting the individual player at the centre of the experience. "At this age, the most important thing is to give every player the opportunity to play, learn and express themselves. We want young players to enjoy the game, develop their creativity and make their own decisions on the pitch,” he said. “This festival is about creating the right environment for every talent to grow."

Some 2,646 players from 189 FIFA Member Associations (MAs) converged on Azerbaijan for the week-long event. For 78 of these MAs, it marked their first-ever participation in a FIFA World Cup™, making the Festival a particularly significant milestone in providing access to international football. To ensure all those players were given playing time, while also promoting competitive balance between teams from different countries, it was decided to use an 8v8 format with two halves of 20 minutes per match and unlimited substitutions. Pitch dimensions were reduced to 68m × 47m, but still with full-size goals, while offside only applied beyond specially marked offside lines positioned on the touchline, level with the penalty area from the defending team’s goal. Throw-ins were replaced by kick-ins. The format also produced an average of almost five goals per match, reflecting the attacking nature of the game and the opportunities it created for young players to express themselves in the final third.

The Festival also demonstrated the connection between this international platform and FIFA's wider work through the Talent Development Scheme (TDS). A total of 556 players – approximately 21% of all participating players – came from FIFA Talent Academies, representing 51 of the participating MAs.

These figures highlight the growing contribution of FIFA Talent Academies to providing talented young players with structured development opportunities in their own countries. The festival offered these players a valuable opportunity to take the next step by experiencing international competition and exchanging experiences with peers from around the world.

“I found many interesting things, particularly the unlimited substitutions. They allow us to give every player here a chance to play, so everyone is involved,” said Mali coach Rafan Sidibe. “On top of that, the set pieces create even more opportunities, more chances, especially the kicks from the sidelines. “The offside rules are also interesting because, even at this age, children need to start learning the rules of the full-size game. I find the offside rule really interesting too. I believe this (FIFA U-15) World Cup has been a wonderful experience for the players, the coaching staff and everyone involved. For a first experience, I think we felt comfortable with the rules and regulations.”

Ulf Schott, FIFA's Head of High Performance Programmes, said the intention of the 8v8 format was to get players more involved. “When you play with eight you have more ball contact than if you play 11v11. To introduce creativity, or to improve, to trigger the creativity: you need to be creative if you want to be successful [in] such a [small] area,” he said. “There is also an organisational point. To play 11v11, we would need double the space. And we also thought, for the competitive balance between the Member Associations, it is better to play 8v8 rather than 11v11.” Schott explained that the format was part of a broader effort to create the best possible learning environment for young players at an event bringing together teams from all over the world.

“Through this format, every player is more involved in the game. There are more touches, more decisions and more situations in which players have to find their own solutions. We want them to think about the game, express themselves and develop their creativity.”

Schott added that FIFA had also tested a 7v7 format but that it was found to favour the more physically developed players. “That was a big thing, and the other thing was that you introduce, already, a technical approach in an 8v8 more than in a 7v7. And this is also what we want to do, not to be tactical, but to think about the game. That’s why we have chosen 8v8 and not 11v11,” he said.

Players and coaches had adapted to the new format as the tournament went on, he added. “I would say at the beginning it was more hectic. Everyone showed a huge commitment but it was more on the physical (side of things), more on the duels. At the end you had the feeling everyone (has) adapted, and everyone is using the space more than they used it before, to play more in positions – for sure also to change positions, but to use the space more than before.” Kick-ins, meanwhile, were used basically as a test. “We have seen – and that’s probably also something to think about for the future – that it was used in many cases as kind of a free kick,” Schott said, adding that throw-ins and dribble-ins had also been trialled before the tournament.

Costa Rica coach Luis Carlos Mejías also praised the format. “It becomes faster with an offside rule that allows more depth. I think it means there is less time and space… so I think it is very good,” he said. Latvia coach Kirils Buravcevs added: “For our players it’s good because we have very quick transition in attack, in defence. And we have many duels on the field. And intensity, it’s the main point for us and we are happy with that.” Chinese Taipei’s Makoto Kametani said coaches had also benefitted: “It’s really, really challenging for our staff,” he said. “That means we have to adapt, we have to learn a lot of things and to adapt this situation. That means it’s, in my opinion, it’s good for us.”