1 week ago
FIFA's Proposed 211-Team U-15 World Cup Youth Festival
FIFA considered creating a huge football festival for players under 15 years old.
Every one of FIFA’s 211 member countries could have joined.
Teams would not have needed to play qualifying matches first.
Games would have been shorter and played on smaller fields.
The first event was planned for boys, with a girls’ tournament possibly following in 2027.
Business groups also explored how the festival could make money and become a major sports event.
Orlando and several entertainment and broadcasting facilities were considered as possible locations.
FIFA later stopped the private investment plan, but it did not abandon the youth competition.
Baku in Azerbaijan was confirmed as the host city.
FIFA explored an Under-15 tournament involving all 211 member nations without qualifiers.
The proposed festival would have used shorter matches, smaller pitches, and 32 groups of six or seven teams.
Private investors, including Eldridge Industries, considered turning the event into a major commercial sports property.
Orlando, ESPN, and Disney facilities were reportedly discussed, but FIFA later shelved the private investment plan.
FIFA continues with a global U-15 competition, with Baku, Azerbaijan, confirmed as host.
- Who
- FIFA, private investors including Eldridge Industries and businessman Juan Carlos Rodriguez, broadcasters, and Under-15 players from FIFA member nations.
- What
- FIFA explored a 211-team global Under-15 football festival and a private investment plan to develop it as a major sporting property.
- Where
- The proposed commercial event considered Orlando, while Baku, Azerbaijan, was confirmed to host the continuing FIFA competition.
- When
- The plan was reportedly shelved shortly before the 2026 Men’s World Cup; FIFA announced the youth competition in December 2025 and confirmed Baku as host on June 24.
- Why
- FIFA sought to create a global youth development event that could include countries rarely present at the senior World Cup and potentially become a major commercial property.
Inclusion and youth development
Commercial and governance concerns
Purpose of the tournament
Inclusion and youth development
Supporters of the concept saw a global youth festival as a way to give every FIFA member a place and help countries that rarely reach the senior World Cup.
Commercial and governance concerns
The commercial proposal also treated the event as a potential major sports property, raising questions about the role of private investment in FIFA’s event and commercial operations.
Future of the project
Inclusion and youth development
FIFA continued pursuing the competition after shelving the private investment plan and said Baku had the infrastructure for thousands of players and staff.
Commercial and governance concerns
FIFA has not publicly explained whether wider discussions with private investors contributed to the decision to drop the commercial plan.
Key facts
- Potential participants
- All 211 FIFA member nations
- Age group
- Under-15 players
- Proposed format
- 32 groups of six or seven teams, with shorter matches and smaller pitches
- Planned tournaments
- A boys’ first edition, followed by a separate girls’ tournament expected in 2027
- Commercial partners discussed
- Eldridge Industries, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, and ESPN
- Proposed location
- Orlando, including the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and Disney theme parks
- Confirmed host
- Baku, Azerbaijan
Sources
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