For the first time in history, Pakistan will send a team to a FIFA World Cup event, with the Pakistan Football Federation picking a 14-member squad for the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan. Travel arrangements will see the team fly from Islamabad to Baku on October 20, following player selection derived from the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026.
The PFF stated that this competition presents a chance for young Pakistani players to acquire international exposure, face squads from various nations, and wear the national colors worldwide.
Approximately 190 FIFA member associations will send squads to this maiden tournament, split into 32 groups. The top team in each group moves on to the premier tier, and the rest play in five separate tiers dictated by group outcomes.
Roughly 1,000 matches take place across six matchdays at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku. Crystal Hall hosts the opening fixture and the tier finals on October 30.
Teams play an eight-a-side format featuring two 20-minute halves per game, giving youths extended playing time. FIFA intends to stage the initial girls' edition in 2027, with boys' and girls' tournaments turning into annual fixtures starting in 2028.
Pakistan's 14-Member Squad
Shayan Abdul Jabbar Marwat, Muhammad Salman, Muhammad Alam, Maqbool Ahmed, Shahraz Khan, Rameez Riza, Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Mustafa, Ilhan Khan Ali, Bakshi Hamal Khan, Owais Faiz, Zain ul Abideen, Danish Masih, Kaleem Ullah
