FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival™ “truly unites the world” as the first edition of the tournament kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan.

More than 3,000 boys and officials from 189 FIFA Member Associations (MA) – 78 of whom have never featured at a FIFA World Cup™ at any age level – are taking part in the inaugural tournament. A girls-only edition will be held next year with separate boys’ and girls’ events staged annually from 2028.

Mr Infantino attended the opening ceremony held at Baku Crystal Hall along with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, First Vice President and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) President Rovshan Najaf, FIFA Council members, FIFA MA Presidents, and other dignitaries.

“Football belongs to everyone, everywhere in the world. And for us in FIFA, it is important to give every talent in every corner of the world a chance to shine, and it is important, as well, that we give every country the right and the opportunity to dream,” said the FIFA President as he officially marked the start of the tournament to which all 211 FIFA MAs were invited.

“This FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival truly unites the world. We like to say that football unites the world, but for the first time here in Baku, we bring together over 3,000 players and officials from all over the world. We bring together 189 teams from all over the world. We bring together a team of volunteers, of staff members, who are dedicated to live their passion of football, and we truly unite the world.”

Matches are played in an eight-a-side format with two 20-minute halves. Rolling substitutions, kick-ins and smaller pitches means the environment is tailored to the needs of young players. The competition format also sees every team play until the final day as the three-day qualification stage leads into a three-day tournament stage across six tiers. The Tier A winner will be crowned the very first FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champion at Baku Crystal Hall after the tournament has seen around 1,000 matches played.

“My main message is for the players. This is a unique opportunity. You are part of history. This is the first-ever FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival. Enjoy it!” Mr Infantino said. “Play with your heart, play with your passion, have fun, play fair, of course, try to win, respect your opponent, respect the game, respect football, and let us all enjoy this incredible moment.”

Most matches are being played at the Hovsan Competition Complex, which has been custom-built for the tournament by the AFFA and with the full support of the Azerbaijani government.

“I would like, again, to place on the record my sincere thanks to President Aliyev, his incredible team, Baku, Azerbaijan, for uniting the world here in the next seven days,” said the FIFA President, who had met Azerbaijan’s head of state and the country’s U-15 boys’ team on a visit to Baku late last month. “We are writing history together, and it will be fantastic.”

Mr Sharifov added: “Today, thanks to the visionary concept of FIFA and President Infantino, teenage footballers from nearly every corner of the globe have earned the ultimate honour to represent their nations on the FIFA World Cup stage. Azerbaijan has been inspired to partner with FIFA in unlocking such an extraordinary opportunity, and we thank FIFA for the trust it placed in Azerbaijan.”

The Hovsan Competition Complex will leave a legacy for Azerbaijani football and the AFFA, which has used the USD 17.9 million it has received in FIFA Forward funding since 2016 to transform the country’s football ecosystem.

FIFA support has facilitated the development of football infrastructure as the AFFA builds towards co-hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027™ with Uzbekistan while youth development has been a particular strategic focus. FIFA Forward-funded projects such as the Turan Tovuz Football Academy in north-west Azerbaijan and the flourishing FIFA Talent Development Scheme mean more gifted youngsters across the country now have a real opportunity to realise their potential.

The AFFA was also one of the first MAs to complete a FIFA Arena project in September 2025, building mini-pitches at two schools for the benefit of more than 6,000 students, who – since September 2026 – can access the FIFA Football for Schools app in their native language.

The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival will provide even more impetus but also have a far wider positive impact on the growth of young talent across all six confederations. That extends to the youngsters’ personal development with players participating in educational activities, meetings with FIFA Legends and awareness campaigns.

“I expressed my sincere gratitude to the Deputy Prime Minister and the government for their great cooperation and support in bringing this groundbreaking youth tournament to life,” said Mr Infantino after meeting Mr Sharifov and watching some of the opening games.

“This event provides a wonderful platform for young talent to develop and shine, reaffirming that football is for everyone, everywhere – I wish all players, coaches and fans an unforgettable experience.”