NEW DELHI
India have been drawn in Group K alongside Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos and Senegal for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026, scheduled to be held in Baku in October.
The India U15 men’s team, coached by Bibiano Fernandes, will play five qualification-stage matches over three days at the Hovsan Competition Complex. The tournament features 191 FIFA member associations divided into 32 groups, with 943 matches scheduled across 20 pitches.
India will begin their campaign against Laos on October 24 at 11:45 IST. On October 25, they will face Cameroon at 10:30 IST before taking on Grenada at 17:15 IST. The team will complete the qualification stage on October 26 against Bahrain at 14:15 IST and Senegal at 21:00 IST.
The tournament will use an 8v8 format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves and a five-minute interval. Rolling substitutions will be allowed, while pitches will measure 68 metres by 50 metres.
Participating teams will arrive in Baku on October 22, followed by an official training day on October 23. The qualification stage will run from October 24 to 26, followed by a rest day. The tournament stage is scheduled for October 28 and 29, with tier finals on October 30.
India is currently training at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. The Blue Colts are also scheduled to play international friendly matches at home before travelling to Azerbaijan. The final squad will consist of 14 players.
