Pakistan names 14-player squad for its first FIFA World Cup event, the U-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced a 14-player squad for the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the first time Pakistan has taken part in any FIFA World Cup event, ProPakistani reported.

The players were picked on their performances at the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026. The squad leaves Islamabad for Baku on Tuesday 20 October.

How the U-15 World Cup works

This is not a standard World Cup with a 32-team final round. FIFA has built it as a festival open to almost every member association:

• About 190 countries take part, split into 32 groups.
• Group winners go into the top tier; everyone else plays on in five lower tiers decided by their group results, so every team keeps playing.
• Matches are eight-a-side, with two halves of 20 minutes.
• Close to 1,000 matches are played over six matchdays.
• Most games are at the Hovsan Competition Complex; the opening match and the tier finals are at Crystal Hall.
• The finals are on Friday 30 October.

Baku is one hour behind Pakistan, so a 4pm kick-off in Azerbaijan is 5pm PKT. Pakistan's group and fixtures had not been published when the squad was named; we will add them when FIFA releases the draw.

Why it matters

Pakistan has never played at a FIFA World Cup at any level. A format that guarantees every team several matches against foreign opposition gives Pakistan's youngest players international minutes that the domestic game rarely offers.

What is next for Pakistan football

The senior team's next fixtures and the PFF's domestic calendar are on our sports desk. For readers following the Asian Games, our Asian Games 2026 schedule in Pakistan time has every Pakistan event.

Searchable does not publish the names of the players, as all are under 18.