India U-15 beat Laos 4-2 in FIFA U15 World Cup opener in Baku

India U-15 beat Laos 4-2 at the Hovsan Competition Complex Pitch 1B in Baku on Saturday, October 24, 2026, in their Group K opener at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026. Macdonnish Ngairangbam (7′) and R Lalremruatfela (11′) put India ahead early, Anavin Xayyasone (12′) and Souksavanh Siliseng (24′) drew Laos level, and Lalremruatfela (31′) and Soumojit Sarkar (33′) struck from distance to complete the comeback and secure the victory.

The tournament features 189 national teams divided into 32 groups, played in an eight-a-side format with two 20-minute halves and rolling substitutions permitted. Bibiano Fernandes’ Blue Colts made a bright start and created two chances inside the opening four minutes; a left-footed effort from Deepak Singh Arambam was pushed away by Laos goalkeeper Anousith Souksavanh in the third minute and Macdonnish was denied by the advancing custodian a minute later. A social post captured the mood after the match: "Winning start for the #BlueColts in Baku! 🤩🇮🇳#LAOIND #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/oAsTI69bf5"

India opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Deepak worked into the small box and cut the ball back for Macdonnish to tap home. The Blue Colts doubled their lead in the 11th minute after a Laos clearance was blocked by Deepak and the loose ball fell to R Lalremruatfela, who finished with his left boot. Laos responded almost immediately when Anavin Xayyasone struck from distance in the 12th minute, leaving India goalkeeper Jenit Ningthoujam rooted to the spot.

After a period of fewer clear chances before the half, India threatened early in the second period with a header from Macdonnish that drifted inches wide from a corner in the 21st minute. Laos levelled in the 24th minute when Souksavanh Siliseng struck first time from outside the box into the bottom corner. India pushed forward thereafter and regained the lead in the 31st minute when R Lalremruatfela collected a pass from Soumojit Sarkar and fired left-footed from outside the box.

Two minutes later Soumojit Sarkar extended the advantage with a long-range effort from just inside the halfway line that went over the goalkeeper and into the net. The Blue Colts managed the remainder of the match to preserve the two-goal margin and secure all three points in their opening group game.

India U15 men’s starting 8 vs Laos were: Jenit Ningthoujam (GK), Pratham Kumar, Nara Meitei Loushambam, Soumojit Sarkar, R Lalremruatfela, Macdonnish Ngairangbam (C), C Lalhmingropuia, Deepak Singh Arambam. Substitutes listed were Dhannya Desai (GK), Muhammad Sohil Khan, Birjit Singh Amom, Nibas Meetei Wahengbam, Victor Lalawmpuia and Ronandev Aheibam.

India will face Cameroon next on Sunday, October 25, at 10:30 IST and Grenada later the same day at 17:15 IST, before concluding the qualification stage against Bahrain and Senegal on October 26; their results across the five matches will determine which performance tier they enter for the second phase. All matches are streamed live for free on dazn.com.