For the first time in history, the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 is set to take place in Baku, with just a few days remaining until the event begins.

According to Offsideplus.az, the tournament will be held from October 22 to 31 at a newly constructed complex in the Hovsani district of Baku, featuring 10 football pitches. The event will not be limited to just football matches; various festival activities and opening ceremonies are also planned. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Crystal Hall in Baku. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who visited Azerbaijan on September 29, is closely monitoring the preparations.

During his visit, Infantino was received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who expressed gratitude for FIFA's support in the development of football in Azerbaijan. Infantino highlighted the significance of the U-15 World Cup, noting that it has drawn the attention of the global sports community. Discussions also focused on the prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and FIFA, particularly regarding the ongoing efforts to develop football in the country.

Infantino later met with AFFA President Rovshan Najaf, AFFA Secretary General Cahangir Huseynzade, and other officials. He expressed appreciation for the sports complex built in Hovsani for the tournament and acknowledged the work being done there.

The official was impressed by the rapid progress made in establishing a major football centre within a short period. The complex, completed in just two months, now boasts 10 football pitches ready for use. Infantino inspected the condition of the pitches, assessing their quality and ensuring they meet the required standards for the tournament.

Infantino also engaged with the team responsible for the construction and preparations, discussing the ongoing work and providing high praise for the efforts made. He referred to the preparations as "extraordinary work."

The quality of the pitches in Hovsani has drawn attention, with reports indicating that they are comparable to those used by leading European clubs in their academies. It has been noted that the facilities are on par with those used by youth teams from clubs like Ajax, Barcelona, and Manchester.

Currently, the main football pitches are fully prepared. The next phase will focus on completing other functional areas of the complex. This includes facilities for training, administrative and service staff, medical services, and other necessary sections. These works are expected to be completed within approximately 15 days. Given the current state of readiness, it is reported that there are no significant delays anticipated for the tournament.

The long-term use of this new base for youth football development in Azerbaijan is also planned. The complex in Hovsani will continue to be used for training by Baku teams and various youth tournaments after the event. Thus, the infrastructure created for the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 is expected to serve Azerbaijani football, particularly in the development of youth football, even after the tournament concludes.