Guam’s U15 boys national soccer team will represent the island at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, taking place Oct. 24-30 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Guam will compete in Group W alongside Uzbekistan, Ghana, Myanmar, the Bahamas and Kazakhstan, giving the island’s young players opportunities to face opponents from different backgrounds and gain valuable international match experience.

The historic tournament will unite soccer players from across the world, offering Guam’s players an opportunity to test their skills, experience different styles of play and build connections with teams from diverse football cultures.

“This tournament represents a monumental milestone not just for these young men, but for the entire football community in Guåhan as we take part in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival,” said head coach Ross Awa. “As part of our GFA National Academy and the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, this competition is about more than results. It is a chance for our players to test themselves, learn from every match and interaction, and grow through the experience.

“Our goal – on the global stage – is to instill the Matatnga (fearless) style of football. You can expect our team to play with absolute fearlessness, relentless grit, and an uncompromising winning mindset,” Awa added. “We want these young players to realize that with the right discipline and courage, a country like ours can stand tall against the footballing nations at the competition.”

For Guam Football Association, participation represents an important opportunity to strengthen the island’s youth development pathway. Competing on a global stage will allow players to develop confidence and gain experience they can carry into future national team competitions.

Open to all FIFA Member Associations, the tournament is designed to provide meaningful international competition for nations of all sizes and soccer backgrounds. More than 3,000 players, coaches and officials are expected to participate, with nearly 1,000 matches scheduled across six days.

Teams will compete in an 8v8 format, featuring two 20-minute halves. An initial qualification stage will determine placement into six performance tiers for the second stage, allowing teams to face opponents at comparable competitive levels.

Every team will continue playing through the final day, with each scheduled to play eight to 10 matches across the two stages. This structure gives Guam’s soccer players repeated opportunities to learn, adapt and improve.

Matches will primarily take place at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, with the opening match and tier finals scheduled for Crystal Hall. The competition is open to players born in 2011 or 2012.

Beyond the matches, the festival will offer Guam’s delegation an opportunity to experience new cultures and develop friendships through a shared passion for soccer.

The inaugural boys edition will be followed by a girls tournament in 2027, with both competitions planned to take place annually beginning in 2028.

GFA encourages the Guam community to support its young representatives as they prepare to carry the island’s pride onto the international stage.

Representing Guam are 14 players: Jaydence Calara, David Benavente, Timothy Dixon, Trystan Santos, Stephen Rioja, Kansuke Ishii, Ryu Finch, Leonard Kaae III, Min “Roi” Song, Jessiah Quiambao, Marciano Denight, Jordan San Nicolas, Ryan Lee and Kaito Burdick.

Leading the delegation’s technical and support staff are:

• Head coach: Ross Awa

• Assistant coach: Ryan Lazaroe

• Goalkeeper coach: Jeroen Bos

• Team manager: Vance Manibusan

• Physiotherapist: Walfred Javier

• Team doctor: Mikhaela Razon

(Daily Post Staff)