The Afghanistan Football Federation has announced that the country’s under-15 national football team has successfully secured a place in the FIFA U-15 World Cup and FIFA Festival 2026.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October 2026.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the federation stated that this achievement is the result of the implementation of grassroots football development programs, the organization of talent identification tournaments across different regions of Afghanistan, and ongoing efforts to discover and nurture young players.

According to the federation, this success is also the outcome of coordination and consultations with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) aimed at expanding grassroots football and providing more opportunities for the country’s young football generation.

The FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is designed to support emerging talent, increase international experience for youth players, and improve their technical level. In this edition, players born in 2011 and 2012 are eligible to participate, and matches will be played in an 8-a-side format.

The Afghanistan Football Federation expressed hope that the participation of the U-15 national team in this event will provide valuable experience, contribute to the players’ technical development, and help showcase Afghan football talent on the international stage.