India U-15 to face Bahrain in final group-day double-header at FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival in Baku

India U-15 will meet Bahrain U-15 at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of the final day of group-stage action at the FIFA U-15 World Cup Festival on October 26, 2026; the Bahrain match is scheduled for 14:15 IST on Pitch 9A and India will play Senegal later the same day at 21:00 IST on Pitch 8A.

Bibiano Fernandes oversees India’s campaign after his appointment by the AIFF, and the Blue Colts enter the last group-day unbeaten following a 4-2 win over Laos and a 2-1 victory against Cameroon; they drew 3-3 with Grenada after surrendering a 3-0 lead in the final 10 minutes. The side’s results to date leave them undefeated in the group but with defensive concerns the coaching staff will want to address as the players adapt to the tournament stage.

Bahrain opened with a 4-0 victory over Grenada but endured mixed form on day two, drawing 1-1 with Laos—who secured the draw despite being at a numerical disadvantage—and then suffering a 6-1 defeat to Senegal. In their win over Grenada Bahrain were described as physically dominant, with effective pressing, long-ball use and quick transitions into goalscoring chances; those characteristics were not evident in their subsequent matches.

R. Lalremruatfela has been a prominent performer for India, scoring a brace in the opening win over Laos and netting the winner against Cameroon with a long-range effort while captaining the side in that match. The article notes his club affiliation as FC Madras academy and describes the two opening-game goals—one after controlling the ball following a poor clearance and another as a left-footed strike from the edge of the box—plus the Cameroon winner as a similar effort from distance, saying several clubs will surely keep an eye on him.

The published squad list appears in the source as: Jenit Ningthoujam (GK), Pratham Kumar, Nara Meitei Loushambam, Soumojit Sarkar, R Lalremruatfela, Macdonnish Ngairangbam (C), C Lalhmingropuia, Deepak Singh Arambam Abdulla Alrowaiei (GK), Sayed Alalawi, Abdulaziz Buaallai, Ridha Ebrahim, Sayed Hashem, Zeyad Aun, Rashed Abdul Rahman, Bader Mahboob R. Lalremruatfela (India U-15 ).

Tournament logistics specify that each match at the festival lasts 45 minutes and the competition takes place over two days; both head coaches will be hoping to name fully fit squads with no injury concerns for the double-header schedule. The India–Bahrain fixture is set for Pitch 9A at Hovsan Competition Complex while the later India–Senegal tie is scheduled for Pitch 8A at the same venue.

This fixture will be the first meeting between India and Bahrain at U-15 level, although the sides have met several times at U-16 where the piece states India have historically dominated; the India v Bahrain match on October 26, 2026, at 14:15 IST will be shown live on DAZN, with India then due to face Senegal at 21:00 IST the same evening.