FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the creation of the inaugural Under-15 World Cup, which will feature all 211 member associations of the international governing body. According to Infantino, this landmark initiative will gather over 4,000 young players, advancing the globalization of youth football.

The historic competition is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan from October 22 to 31, 2026. The host nation was selected due to its modern sports infrastructure and capacity to accommodate thousands of young athletes and staff. The initial edition will feature boys' national teams, while the second tournament in 2027 will be reserved for girls' teams.

Due to the unprecedented number of participants, the tournament will adopt a condensed format. Matches will be played on smaller pitches with 8 players per side, consisting of two 20-minute halves separated by a 5-minute interval. The framework was developed by former Mexican Football Federation head Juan Carlos Rodriguez alongside Eldridge Industries.

The defining element of the initiative is the complete elimination of qualification rounds. Historically, financial or administrative hurdles prevented certain federations from entering FIFA events. The new project guarantees direct participation for every member association regardless of their global ranking.