Spain's U-16 team makes its debut at the historic FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 this Friday, October 24. The national squad, comprised of players born in 2011, will face Chile at 09:00 (peninsular time) in Baku, Azerbaijan. This youth tournament coincides with a period of strong confidence for the senior side, which is on a four-game winning run, its latest result a 1-2 win over Croatia on October 6.
National coach Hernán Pérez announced a 14-player squad for the tournament, though he will not be on the touchline in Azerbaijan. David Gordo will take charge of the team there, as Pérez is fulfilling a commitment at a UEFA Development Tournament in Austria. The coach expressed his enthusiasm for the event.
Spain competes in Group E alongside Chile, Congo, Tajikistan, Barbados, and Kuwait. The championship format, which runs until October 30, is unique: 189 national teams will contest around 1,000 matches on reduced-size pitches (68x47 meters), with eight-a-side teams and two 20-minute halves. After the group stage, the tournament splits into six competitive levels (A to F), with the winner of Level A crowned champion. The finals will be held at Baku Crystal Hall.
This innovative FIFA project also looks to the future, with a second edition in 2027 incorporating women's teams and, from 2028, an invitation extended to all member federations.
The Spanish youth team's involvement comes as the senior side is in excellent form, riding a four-game winning streak. This positive run includes victories over England (2-3), Croatia (4-1), Czechia (3-1), and again Croatia (1-2). In that most recent match on October 6, Mikel Merino scored both Spanish goals. The senior team's top scorer this season is Mikel Oyarzabal with five goals in eight appearances. The senior side already looks ahead to its next fixture: an away trip to the Czech Republic on Thursday, November 12. The U-16s' opening match is scheduled for 09:00 on Friday in Baku.
The original report is at DAZN
