New Zealand Football have named their squad for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival, starting in Azerbaijan this month.
The squad includes six players from Wellington Phoenix, three from Auckland United, two from Christchurch United and one each from Nomads United, Bay Olympic and Fencibles United.
Unlike traditional FIFA age-group tournaments, the competition will use an eight-a-side format, with matches comprising two 20-minute halves.
The team will be coached by Wellington Phoenix’s head of boys’ talent development and men’s U-18 head coach, Cam Grieve.
New Zealand will compete against Madagascar, Mozambique, Puerto Rico, Somalia and Venezuela in Group T at the tournament in Baku.
The competition will bring together 191 national teams and more than 3,000 participants, including players, coaches and officials.
Almost 1,000 matches are scheduled across six matchdays, with the tournament running from October 24-30.
Games will be played on 68m by 47m pitches, using full-size goals, with players born in 2011 or 2012 eligible.
Each country will play five group matches before entering a second phase, with teams divided into six performance tiers.
Countries will then play another four or five matches against opponents of similar ability, ensuring every squad receives substantial international experience.
The winners of the top tier will become the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival champions.
Most matches will be staged at Baku’s purpose-built Hovsan Competition Complex, which features 20 pitches across a 12-hectare site.
The tournament’s finals will be held at the city’s Crystal Hall.
New Zealand are among 11 Oceania nations participating, alongside American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tonga and Vanuatu.
FIFA intend to introduce a girls’ edition in 2027, before establishing annual tournaments for both boys and girls from 2028.
The new competition forms part of FIFA’s efforts to increase international playing opportunities for young footballers and support their development.
New Zealand
Tristan Bancroft – Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa)
Samuel Brooking – Wellington Phoenix (St Patrick’s Silverstream)
Caleb Brown – Wellington Phoenix (Paraparaumu College)
Aashman Chandratreya – Christchurch United (Ao Tawhiti Football Institute)
Jacob Choi – Nomads FC (St. Bede’s College Christchurch)
Mahdi Hossaini – Christchurch United (Riccarton High School)
Louis Jones – Wellington Phoenix (Heretaunga College)
Rylan Kumar – Auckland United (St Kentigern)
Xzavier Kumar – Bay Olympic (Avondale College)
Edward Martin – Auckland United (Long Bay College)
Finn Mason – Auckland United (St Peter’s College)
Kieran McMahon – Wellington Phoenix (Onslow College)
Tawanda Mutingwende – Wellington Phoenix (NZ Performance Academy Aotearoa)
Aiden Quarterman – Fencibles FC (Saint Kentigern College)
Fixtures
Game to be played on Saturday October 24, 2026 (NZT)
New Zealand v Venezuela
Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku. 8.30pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Sunday October 25, 2026 (NZT)
Madagascar v New Zealand
Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku, 7.15pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Monday October 26, 2026 (NZT)
New Zealand v Somalia
Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku, 2am (NZT)
Puerto Rico v New Zealand
Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku, 6pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Tuesday October 27, 2026 (NZT)
New Zealand v Mozambique
Hovsan Competition Complex, Baku, 12.45am (NZT)
This story was first published on October 15, 2026.