South Africa Set to Compete in Inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup
- South Africa will send a young national team to a brand-new FIFA tournament in October
- The U15 World Cup will introduce a faster 8-a-side format designed to maximise playing time
- The tournament will give South Africa’s young players an early taste of global competition
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Source: UGC
South Africa will take part in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup in Azerbaijan from 22 to 31 October 2026. The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed the participation on 4 September.
The tournament will involve all 211 FIFA member associations and will use a fast-paced 8-a-side format on smaller pitches.
SAFA welcomes new FIFA World Cup
SAFA Technical Director Molefi Ntseki welcomed the opportunity and stressed the importance of exposing young players to international competition. In a statement published on its official website on 4 September 2026, SAFA Technical Director Molefi Ntseki said:
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“First of all, we need to applaud FIFA for this great initiative, and gratitude also goes to our Association for allowing us to participate in this global event.
"We are delighted to be part of this magnificent tournament.
"This is what many nations, especially on the African continent, have been calling for as we need to start them young in international environments.”
He added:
“We do not take this lightly and will put together a strong team that will not only go there to compete.
"But most importantly, to also learn because this helps our efforts to build a perfect career pathway from the juniors all the way to the top.”
Selekedi Mogale to lead SA U15 side
Selekedi Mogale will coach the South African U15 team after recently leading the SA U16 side in friendly matches in Bulgaria. The team will assemble for camp on 13 October before travelling to Baku.
Ntseki also described the tournament as another World Cup opportunity for South Africa following Bafana Bafana’s recent participation and the country’s FIFAe World Cup qualification.
Source: Twitter
Danny Jordaan outlines South Africa’s next football targets
Briefly News previously reported that SAFA president Danny Jordaan has outlined 3 major targets for Bafana Bafana following Pitso Mosimane’s return as head coach.
The targets span major African and global competitions, offering a glimpse into the broader international ambitions of South African football as the country also prepares its next generation for the FIFA U15 World Cup.
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Source: Briefly News
