India U-15 to open FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival qualifiers against Laos in Baku on Oct 24
India U-15 will meet Laos U-15 at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku on Saturday, 24 October 2026, in their opening qualification match of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026. The fixture represents the Blue Colts' first competitive test in the tournament's qualification phase under coach Bibiano Fernandes.
The competition is being staged as an eight-player line-up event and India have been drawn into a qualification group that includes several nations with FIFA World Cup experience. India prepared for the trip with two draws against Qatar U-15 before departing for Azerbaijan. Fernandes has stated his side must accumulate wins in the qualification stage to secure placement in the higher tiers of the main edition. Laos' senior side sit 185th in the FIFA World Rankings, a detail underlining why India enter the match as favourites.
Laos are expected to adopt a cautious, defence-first approach, prioritising compactness and numbers behind the ball while seeking opportunities on the break. Their strategy, as described in previews, will centre on frustrating India’s attacking patterns and exploiting transitions. A positive result for Laos would serve as evidence of their competitiveness in the qualification phase; conversely, a heavy defeat would be damaging for the young squad.
Fernandes has named a 14-player travelling party for Azerbaijan, while Laos have brought their most promising young talents for the festival. This meeting will be the first-ever competitive encounter between India U-15 and Laos U-15. The India squad list in coverage includes: Dhannya Desai (GK), Brijit Singh, Muhammed Sohail Khan, Pratham Kumar, Deepak Singh, Victor Lalawmpuia, Aheibam Ronadev, Macdonnish Ngairangbam.
Forward Aheibam Ronadev is highlighted among the Indian ranks; the Manipur-born attacker is noted for his movement and ability to slip into dangerous areas. Reports say Ronadev will need to be clinical in front of goal and create opportunities for teammates if India are to secure a sizable victory in their opener.
Kick-off at the Hovsan Competition Complex is scheduled for 11:45 AM IST on Saturday, 24 October, and the match will be streamed live and free on DAZN. Coverage details confirm DAZN as the free streaming platform for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026 qualification fixtures.
Fernandes has emphasised the importance of winning in the qualification stage to reach higher tiers in the main event, and a strong result in Baku would bolster India’s hopes of doing so; dropping points in the opener could prove demoralising for the squad. India begin their FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026 campaign against Laos on 24 October, with the outcome carrying direct implications for their placement in the tournament’s subsequent phases.