India drawn in Group K for inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup in Baku
Synopsis
India's U15 footballers have landed in arguably one of the toughest groups of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup — facing Cameroon and Senegal, two African nations with strong youth football pedigrees, alongside Bahrain, Grenada, and Laos. With five matches in three days in Baku and a squad of just 14, this is India's first shot at a global U15 stage — and the schedule leaves no margin for error.
Key Takeaways
India have been drawn in Group K of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan .
Group opponents: Bahrain , Cameroon , Grenada , Laos , and Senegal .
India will play five matches across three days — 24, 25, and 26 October — at the Hovsan Competition Complex .
The tournament features 191 national teams in 32 groups , with 943 matches across six competition days .
Matches are played in an 8v8 format with two 20-minute halves on 68m x 50m pitches.
India's squad of 14 players is currently in camp at the Centre for Sports Excellence, Bengaluru .
India have been placed in Group K of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup, set to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in October 2026, alongside Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos, and Senegal. The India U15 men's team will contest five matches across three days in the qualification stage at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
India's Match Schedule
India open their campaign against Laos on 24 October. The team then plays a double-header on 25 October, facing Cameroon and Grenada in succession, with all three matches slated for Pitch 1B.
The qualification stage concludes for India on 26 October with another twin-bill — Bahrain on Pitch 9A followed by Senegal on Pitch 8A. Squeezing five games into three days places a premium on squad depth and rotation, a significant test for a young side.
Tournament Format and Scale
With the competition open to all FIFA Member Associations, a total of 191 national teams have been split across 32 groups. Across six competition days, a remarkable 943 matches will be played on 20 pitches, making this one of the largest youth football events in history.
Matches will be played in an 8v8 format on pitches measuring 68 metres by 50 metres, with two 20-minute halves separated by a five-minute interval. Rolling substitutions will be permitted throughout, giving coaches flexibility to manage workloads over a physically demanding schedule.
Tournament Timeline
All participating teams are scheduled to arrive in Baku on 22 October, followed by an official training day on 23 October. The qualification stage runs from 24 to 26 October, with a rest day on 27 October. The tournament stage takes place on 28 and 29 October, and tier finals are scheduled for 30 October.
India's Preparation
The India U15 squad is currently in camp at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. The team is set to play international friendly matches on home soil before departing for Azerbaijan with a final squad of 14 players.
Notably, this inaugural edition features only boys' teams. The 2027 edition will be restricted to girls' teams, and from 2028 onwards, all FIFA Member Associations will be invited to participate with both their boys' and girls' U-15 sides in two separate competitions — a phased expansion that reflects FIFA's intent to broaden youth football globally.
Point of View
And five matches in three days is a gruelling ask for a 14-player squad. The bigger picture, though, is institutional: India's presence in the inaugural edition of a 191-team global youth tournament signals a step-change from the era when Indian football was routinely absent from FIFA events at any level. How the U15s perform in Baku will matter less than whether this exposure — and the camp infrastructure at Bengaluru — translates into a sustained youth pipeline. FIFA's phased rollout to include girls' teams from 2027 also presents a strategic opportunity India's football federation should be planning for now, not after the fact.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which group is India placed in at the FIFA U15 World Cup 2026?
India have been drawn in Group K of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup, alongside Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos, and Senegal. The group stage matches will be played at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24 to 26 October 2026.
When and where will India play their FIFA U15 World Cup matches?
India play Laos on 24 October, then face Cameroon and Grenada on 25 October, and conclude the qualification stage against Bahrain and Senegal on 26 October. All matches are at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan.
What is the format of the FIFA U15 World Cup?
Matches are played in an 8v8 format on pitches measuring 68 metres by 50 metres, with two 20-minute halves and a five-minute interval. Rolling substitutions are permitted, and 191 national teams are split into 32 groups across six competition days.
How is India preparing for the FIFA U15 World Cup?
India's U15 squad is in camp at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru and will play international friendly matches at home before travelling to Azerbaijan with a final squad of 14 players.
What happens after the 2026 FIFA U15 World Cup?
The 2027 edition will feature only girls' teams, and from 2028 onwards, all FIFA Member Associations will be invited to participate with both boys' and girls' U-15 sides in two separate competitions — a phased expansion of the tournament.
