Northern Ireland are sending a team to the inaugural FIFA World Cup for Under-15 boys’ teams later this month.
Azerbaijan is hosting the tournament, which is part of the world governing body’s commitment to promoting youth football globally.
The FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival is offering FIFA member associations of all sizes and with varying football traditions the opportunity to participate in a competition on the global stage.
Youth National Coach Michael McClean has chosen a 14-player Northern Ireland squad to take part in the tournament. The players come from the Irish FA’s JD Academy (residential and non-residential).
The inaugural edition of the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival will pave the way for FIFA to establish the competition as a fixture of the international game, with the first girls’ tournament scheduled for next year. Both girls’ and boys’ tournaments are then planned to take place annually from 2028.
The competition will feature an 8v8 format with 20-minute halves designed to maximise player development and match experience.
FIFA says it is a development-orientated festival of football rather than a conventional knockout-style World Cup.
The tournament has attracted teams representing 191 nations who will initially be split into 32 groups. The winners of each round-robin group will qualify for a Tier A competition while the other teams in each group will go forward to compete in one of five other performance tiers based on qualification stage results.
Nearly 1000 games are due to be played across six matchdays at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, with the opening match and tier finals on 30 October scheduled to take place at the Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan’s capital city.
One of 35 European (UEFA) countries taking part, Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group AA in the qualification stage.
They will be taking on Antigua and Barbuda (representing Concacaf - Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), Burkina Faso and Eritrea (both representing CAF – Confederation of African Football), Lebanon (AFC – Asian Football Confederation) and New Caledonia (OFC – Oceania Football Confederation).
Michael McClean said: “We’re really excited to compete in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, a unique experience that our young players will hopefully remember for years to come.
“The 8v8 format and chance to face nations they wouldn’t normally play against will provide a fantastic challenge.
“Across the 10 games our players will face nations of different sizes and teams with diverse playing styles. They will have to adapt and problem-solve in-game which will be great for their development.”
Arsène Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, emphasised the tournament’s transformative potential.
He said: “Talent exists everywhere but young players do not always have the same opportunities to test themselves internationally.
“This tournament is about providing them with that opportunity. By bringing teams from across the world together at U15 level, we can give players meaningful matches, expose them to different styles and football cultures, and help them learn and develop through competition.”
Northern Ireland’s first group game will be against New Caledonia on Saturday 24 October (14.30 local time).
The next day they will be facing both Eritrea (11.30) and Antigua and Barbuda (19.30). On 26 October their AA campaign will draw to a close with games against Burkina Faso (10.15) and Lebanon (17.00). The draw for phase two (tournament stage) will take place once all group games have been completed.
The Northern Ireland squad chosen for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Luke Bellingham (Ballymena United), Cuan O’Bradaigh (Cliftonville).
Defenders –Cohen Ennis and JB Camlin (both Glentoran), Shea Donnelly (Ballinamallard United), Eoin McCann (Cliftonville),
Midfielders – Luca Hall and Alfie Davidson (all Glentoran), Calum Evans (Linfield), Will Davison (Dungannon Swifts), Corey Harkin (Derry City).
Attackers – Conleth O’Neill and Dara Donnan (both Linfield), Michael Mulholland (Crusaders).