The players selected to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival have been named ahead of the tournament starting on 22 October. 

The new competition, featuring 191 FIFA nations and over 3,000 participants, will see U-15 men’s players from around the world get their first taste of international action in eight-a-side games played over two 20 minutes halves.  

The tournament will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the majority of fixtures scheduled at the custom-built Hovsan Competition Complex, followed by finals at the city’s Crystal Hall.  

Aotearoa New Zealand has been drawn in Group T along with Madagascar, Mozambique, Puerto Rico, Somalia, and Venezuela.  

All six nations will face each other in a round robin format followed by a finals series, giving the players meaningful minutes of international football to aid their development.  

The New Zealand team will be coached by Cam Grieve, head of boys’ talent development and men’s U-18 head coach at Wellington Phoenix.  

The 14-players selected to represent New Zealand are:  

Tristan Bancroft - Wellington Phoenix (New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa) 
Samuel Brooking - Wellington Phoenix (St Patrick’s Silverstream) 
Caleb Brown - Wellington Phoenix (Paraparaumu College) 
Aashman Chandratreya - Christchurch United (Ao Tawhiti Football Institute) 
Jacob Choi - Nomads FC (St. Bede’s College Christchurch) 
Mahdi Hossaini - Christchurch United (Riccarton High School) 
Louis Jones - Wellington Phoenix (Heretaunga College) 
Rylan Kumar - Auckland United (St Kentigern) 
Xzavier Kumar - Bay Olympic (Avondale College) 
Edward Martin - Auckland United (Long Bay College) 
Finn Mason - Auckland United (St Peter’s College) 
Kieran McMahon - Wellington Phoenix (Onslow College) 
Tawanda Mutingwende - Wellington Phoenix (NZ Performance Academy Aotearoa) 
Aiden Quarterman - Fencibles FC (Saint Kentigern College) 

Aotearoa New Zealand’s Group T fixtures will be as follows (all NZT):  

24 October 2026 
8:30pm vs Venezuela 

25 October 2026 
7:15pm vs Madagascar 

26 October 2026 
2:00am vs Somalia 
6:00pm vs Puerto Rico 

27 October 2026 
12:45pm vs Mozambique 

For the full fixture list, more information, and to follow the competition, visit FIFA.com   

Article added: Thursday 15 October 2026