Russia wins in Baku
The Russian national team defeated the Sudan national team with a score of 11-0 during the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, October 24. This is the first time a Russian representative has competed in a FIFA tournament since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to the exclusion of Russian club and national teams from international football competitions. The tournament invites all 211 FIFA member associations to take part. Russia is placed in Group AE, which is a group containing the national teams of Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Sudan, and Turkey. The match was played on smaller pitches with fewer players than senior matches. The tournament organizers expect approximately 1,000 matches to be played in total, with as many as 20 matches being held at the same time.
| Competition Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Match format | 8 versus 8 |
| Half duration | 20 minutes |
| Total matches | Approximately 1,000 |
| Maximum players | 14 |
| Maximum staff | 6 |
| Birth years | 2011 or 2012 |
Boycotts and tournament rules
Both Romania and Ukraine refused to take part in this competition because of the participation of Russia. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, when asked in February if he was considering whether to lift the ban on Russian teams, said that the ban "must, certainly, because this ban did nothing, only generated more frustration and hatred". This return to FIFA competition is controversial. Following the 11-0 victory against Sudan, coach Denis Pervushin told the publication The Athletic that "we will participate in the next age levels in the near future". Every delegation is permitted a maximum of 14 players and 6 staff members, and the tournament uses an 8 versus 8 format with two 20-minute halves for players born in 2011 or 2012. The total number of matches is expected to be approximately 1,000.
