DID Press: Afghanistan’s U-15 national football team has been drawn alongside Russia, Türkiye, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Djibouti at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.
The draw for the tournament was held on Thursday, with Afghanistan placed in a six-team group alongside the five opponents. The competition is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan from October 22 to 31, 2026. FIFA has confirmed Azerbaijan as the host of the inaugural edition of the new youth competition.
The tournament will be played in an 8-a-side format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. According to tournament information, the competition is designed to provide young players with greater involvement in play and international experience.
Afghanistan secured its place in the tournament earlier this year after the Afghanistan Football Federation said its youth-development programmes and U-14 competitions had helped establish a pathway for the U-15 national team.
The event will bring together 191 national teams, according to reports following the draw. Afghanistan will face Russia, Türkiye, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Djibouti during the preliminary stage.
The tournament will give Afghanistan’s young players an opportunity to compete internationally against youth teams from different regions and gain experience at a FIFA-organized event.