Hanoi, 26 June 2026 – FIFA has confirmed that Azerbaijan will host the first edition of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026, a new youth football tournament created to support the development of the game at grassroots and academy level.
The event was approved by the FIFA Council last December as part of FIFA’s wider commitment to promoting youth football for both boys and girls. According to FIFA, the inaugural tournament will take place from October 22 to 31, 2026, and will be open to boys’ teams from all FIFA Member Associations.
This format could open a possible door for U15 Vietnam to take part in the tournament, although FIFA has not yet announced the official list of participating teams. As Vietnam is a FIFA Member Association, the country may have a chance to be invited or included if FIFA applies the open-participation model widely for the first edition.
The tournament is expected to bring together young players from around the world in a festival-style environment, giving them valuable international experience at an early stage of their careers. For Vietnam, participation would be a major opportunity for young players to test themselves against different football cultures and playing styles.
Azerbaijan was selected as host following an assessment by the FIFA administration. The decision was based on the country’s sporting facilities, general infrastructure, and ability to welcome a large number of young players and support staff in one centralised location.
FIFA also highlighted strategic continuity, as Azerbaijan has already been appointed as a co-host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027. Hosting the first FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival therefore strengthens the country’s role in FIFA’s youth competition structure.
After the boys’ edition in 2026, the 2027 tournament will be dedicated to girls’ teams only. From 2028 onwards, FIFA plans to invite all Member Associations to participate with both boys’ and girls’ U-15 teams in separate competitions.
If U15 Vietnam receives an invitation, it would mark an important milestone for Vietnamese youth football and provide a valuable platform for the next generation of national team players.
VSN/RPT
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