India U15 Schedule for FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026
Image: AIFF
India will begin their FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026 campaign against Laos on October 24, with the Blue Colts scheduled to play five Group K matches over three days at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku.
Bibiano Fernandes’ side will face Laos at 11:45 AM IST on October 24 before playing two matches the following day. India will take on Cameroon at 10:30 AM IST on October 25 and later face Grenada at 5:15 PM IST. The group stage will conclude for India on October 26, when they meet Bahrain at 2:15 PM IST and Senegal at 9:00 PM IST.
India’s Group K Fixtures
Date | Fixture | Time (IST) | Pitch |
October 24 | Laos vs India | 11:45 AM | Pitch 1B |
October 25 | India vs Cameroon | 10:30 AM | Pitch 1B |
October 25 | Grenada vs India | 5:15 PM | Pitch 1B |
October 26 | Bahrain vs India | 2:15 PM | Pitch 9A |
October 26 | India vs Senegal | 9:00 PM | Pitch 8A |
Venue: Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku Live Stream: dazn.com
India have been drawn in Group K alongside Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos and Senegal for the inaugural edition of the tournament, which will be held in Baku from October 24 to 31.
Head coach Bibiano Fernandes has named a 14-player squad for the competition. The Indian contingent is scheduled to arrive in Baku on the morning of October 21 after completing its final phase of preparation in Delhi.
As part of their build-up to the tournament, India played two friendly matches against Aspire Academy U15 in Doha last week. Aspire Academy forms the core of the Qatar national team, and both games ended in 2-2 draws. The matches gave the Indian players valuable preparation before the shift to the tournament’s 8-a-side format.
Fernandes said the objective would be to compete with courage, discipline and aggression while giving the players the opportunity to test themselves at international level.
“Our main objective is to compete with courage, discipline and aggression, while giving every player the opportunity to perform at their highest level in the world. We want to give our best efforts to win every match and gain valuable international experience,” Fernandes said.
The head coach also admitted that selecting the final 14 players had not been easy, with the coaching staff looking for a balanced group capable of handling the demands of the tournament.
“Selecting the final 14 was not easy, but we chose players who could contribute to the team and handle the demands of this historic tournament. The most special thing about this squad is the hunger to learn and the willingness to work hard,” he added.
The FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival will feature 189 national teams divided into 32 groups. Matches will be played in an 8-a-side format, placing greater emphasis on quick decision-making, transitions and individual involvement.
Fernandes said India’s preparation had focused on adapting the players to the pace and structure of the format.
“We have focused on adapting our players to the demands of the 8v8 format — explosive decision-making and faster transitions between attack and defence. They need to understand their role and express themselves with confidence and creativity while contributing to the team's intentions,” Fernandes said.
The second phase of the competition will consist of six performance tiers based on qualification-stage results. Every team will continue playing until the final matchday, while the winners of each tier will be recognised. The team finishing on top of Tier A will be crowned FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival 2026 champions.
India’s 14-Player Squad
Goalkeepers: Dhannya Desai, Jenit Ningthoujam
Defenders: Birjit Singh Amom, Muhammad Sohil Khan, Nara Meitei Loushambam, Pratham Kumar, Soumojit Sarkar
Midfielders: C Lalhmingropuia, Deepak Singh Arambam, Nibash Meetei Wahengbam, R Lalremruatfela, Victor Lalawmpuia
Forwards: Macdonnish Ngairangbam, Ronandev Aheibam
Head Coach: Bibiano FernandesAssistant Coach: Surinder SinghGoalkeeping Coach: Parshuram Salwadi
