Nigeria Face Five Nations At Inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival

By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH

NIGERIA’S young Super Eagles have been drawn into Group A of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.

The tournament will run from 24 to 30 October, bringing together youth teams from around the world.

Nigeria will face Cyprus, Gambia, Jordan, Pakistan and South Sudan in the group stage.

Unlike the conventional FIFA World Cup format, the competition will use an eight-a-side system.

As a result, the festival will offer a different test for the young players. Teams will play across six matchdays during the week-long event.

Around 950 matches are expected to take place, with approximately 3,000 participants involved.

Importantly, every team will remain active throughout the festival. Their results will determine their eventual placement across different competitive tiers.

For Nigeria, the tournament represents an opportunity to gain valuable international exposure.

The young players will also face opponents from different football cultures. Consequently, they will have the chance to test their skills, adapt to new playing styles and gain experience at an international level.

Beyond the results, the festival will give Nigeria’s U-15 players a platform to showcase their abilities before a global audience.

With the tournament set for Azerbaijan from 24 to 30 October, the young Super Eagles now have a clear group-stage challenge ahead of them.