Indian football team for FIFA U15 World Cup: Bibiano names 14-player squad
Representative image: dimitrisvetsikas1969 / Pixabay
India U15 coach Bibiano Fernandes named 14 players for the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Baku from October 24, 2026; India open against Laos.
What Happened
India's under-15 football coach Bibiano Fernandes has named a 14-player squad for the first FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 24 to 31, 2026, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced. India, nicknamed the Blue Colts, are in Group K with Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos and Senegal, and open against Laos on Saturday, October 24. All of India's group games will be played at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku.
Key Facts
- Tournament: the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, Baku, Azerbaijan, October 24 to 31, 2026.
- Squad: 14 players, named by head coach Bibiano Fernandes and announced by the AIFF.
- Group K opponents: Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos and Senegal.
- Schedule: Laos on October 24; Cameroon and Grenada on October 25; Bahrain and Senegal on October 26.
- Venue: Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku.
- Preparation: two friendlies against Aspire Academy's under-15 side in Doha, both drawn 2-2.
- Staff: assistant coach Surinder Singh and goalkeeping coach Parshuram Salwadi support Fernandes.
- Players named in reports include goalkeepers Dhannya Desai and Jenit Ningthoujam, defenders Birjit Singh Amom and Pratham Kumar, and forwards Macdonnish Ngairangbam and Ronandev Aheibam.
Why It Matters
For players aged 14 and 15, international matches are rare. A FIFA event that brings together under-15 teams from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean gives Indian youngsters the chance to test themselves against different styles of play, in an organised tournament, at an age when habits and skills are still being formed.
India's group offers that range. Cameroon and Senegal are African sides, Bahrain and Laos are Asian teams India could meet again in future age-group competitions, and Grenada comes from the Caribbean. Playing five group matches in three days will also test the squad's fitness and the coaching staff's ability to rotate players and manage recovery.
The selection is the end of a long scouting process. Reports on India's preparation describe a camp put together after the AIFF assessed around 12,000 young players. For the boys chosen, the tournament is a first step in a development pathway that leads towards the under-17 level and beyond. The two 2-2 draws against Aspire Academy's under-15 side in Doha gave the squad useful match practice before travelling to Baku.
For young readers who play football, the tournament shows that national selection at this age now runs through organised scouting camps, academies and youth leagues. Following the AIFF's official announcements for trials and grassroots programmes is the most reliable way to learn about selection opportunities.
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| October 24, 2026 | Laos |
| October 25, 2026 | Cameroon |
| October 25, 2026 | Grenada |
| October 26, 2026 | Bahrain |
| October 26, 2026 | Senegal |
Impact
Short-term: The 14 players will get their first experience of a FIFA tournament, with five group matches in three days against teams from three continents.
Long-term: Performances in Baku will help the AIFF judge which players to keep in its development pathway towards the under-17 level, and how its youth coaching compares internationally.
Who is affected: The selected players and their families, the AIFF's youth coaching staff, Indian academies and clubs that develop young players, and young footballers across India hoping for national selection.
Key Takeaway
India's under-15 team, a 14-player squad named by Bibiano Fernandes, will play Laos, Cameroon, Grenada, Bahrain and Senegal at the first FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, starting on October 24, 2026.
Questions and Answers
Who is in the Indian football team for the FIFA U15 World Cup?
Head coach Bibiano Fernandes has named a 14-player squad. Players named in reports include goalkeepers Dhannya Desai and Jenit Ningthoujam, defenders Birjit Singh Amom and Pratham Kumar, and forwards Macdonnish Ngairangbam and Ronandev Aheibam. The full list is on the AIFF website.
When and where is the FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival?
It is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 24 to 31, 2026. India's group matches are at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
Which teams are in India's group?
India are in Group K with Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, Laos and Senegal. They play Laos on October 24, Cameroon and Grenada on October 25, and Bahrain and Senegal on October 26.
How did India prepare for the tournament?
The squad played two friendlies against Aspire Academy's under-15 team in Doha, and both ended 2-2. The selection followed an AIFF scouting process that reportedly covered about 12,000 young players.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
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