By 
Uganda Rhinos will face opponents from four continents after being drawn in Group U of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.
The young Cranes have been grouped with Cabo Verde, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tonga. The competition brings together 192 teams divided into 48 groups of six, giving every FIFA Member Association the chance to compete on the global stage.
Matches begin on 24 October. For Uganda, the tournament offers a rare early opportunity for its youngsters to experience different football cultures and styles.
They will meet fellow African sides Cabo Verde and Equatorial Guinea, South American opposition in Ecuador, Asian challengers from the Kyrgyz Republic, and Oceania’s Tonga. Facing such varied opponents at under-15 level is expected to broaden the players’ development and give them valuable international exposure that is often limited at this age.
The competition will be played in an 8-a-side format over two periods of 20 minutes. Teams can play multiple matches in a short period, allowing more players to gain game time and experience different match situations.
For Uganda, the experience in Azerbaijan will provide an early benchmark of emerging talent against players from different football systems around the world. It forms part of a wider FIFA youth programme, with the first girls’ edition scheduled for 2027 and both tournaments planned to become annual events from 2028.
The tournament gives Uganda’s young footballers a genuine global test and an important step in their development pathway toward the national youth and senior teams.
