Uganda Rhinos show readiness ahead of inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival

Uganda will be part of the wider global community that will take part in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival slated to take place between 24th and 30th October in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Open to all FIFA Member Associations, the tournament, however, will have 189 nations from six confederations competing.

Uganda Rhinos under the watchful eye of coach Anthony Bongole have expressed readiness and want to ably compete.

The team arrived in Baku on Wednesday and have since held a light training session ahead of their games in Group U that also has Cape Verde, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Kyrgyz Republic and Tonga.

“The boys are in good shape and ready to compete at the tournament. We had several days in camp back in Njeru, and I’m confident the team will put up good performances,” said Bongole.

The selected players are Maganda Swalleh (Prosper SA), Kimuli Sudaisi (El Cambio SA), Kyeswa Ashiraf (Jinja S.S), Muhimbo Patson (Prosper SA), Ogwang Victor Bonny (Prosper SA), Zizinga Najib (Isra SA), Baluku Frank (El Cambio SA), Muwanguzi Jonah (Msingi SA), Wafula Ian (El Cambio SA), Bakiika Ethan Tendo Ssaazi (Proline SA), Kasumba Angello (El Cambio SA), Kiganda Ivan (Rays of Grace), Muwonge Mathias (Prosper SA) and Kwikiriza Jefferson (El Cambio SA).

More about the tournament

A total of 189 teams from six confederations have been drawn into 32 groups. Matches are played in an 8v8 format.

The 2026 edition will be for players born in 2011 or 2012, with every team limited to only 14 players and up to six staff.

The duration of games is 40 minutes, with each half of 20 minutes, played on 68m by 47m pitches but with full-size goals.

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN : A general view of the Hovsan competition complex in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo courtesy of AFFA)

In total, over 900 games will be played at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku.

Teams first play a round-robin qualification stage; their results then determine which of six performance tiers they compete in during the tournament stage. No team is eliminated, and a winner is crowned in each tier, with the winner of the top tier honoured as the champion of the tournament.

The tournament was created following the FIFA Council’s decision in December 2025, as part of FIFA’s commitment to youth football development.

According to FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, “Talent exists everywhere, but young players do not always have the same opportunities to test themselves internationally.”

Azerbaijan was appointed host by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on 25 June 2026. A girls’ edition is scheduled for 2027, and boys’ and girls’ tournaments are planned to take place annually from 2028.

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