India U15 Men's National Team Prepares for Inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup 2026
India U15 Men's National Team Camp Kicks Off
The camp for the India U15 men's national team commenced on Sunday at the Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, gearing up for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival 2026. Head coach Bibiano Fernandes is at the helm of this initiative.
Following his contract signing, which received approval from the AIFF Executive Committee on August 6, Fernandes has taken charge of the team. Surinder Singh has been appointed as the assistant coach.
Fernandes, who has a wealth of experience with India's youth teams, first led the U15 squad in 2017 and has since become one of the nation's most accomplished youth coaches.
Under his guidance, India has qualified for the AFC U17 Asian Cup four times—in 2018, 2020, 2023, and 2026. A highlight of his career was leading India to the quarter-finals of the AFC U16 Championship in 2018. Additionally, he has secured five SAFF age-group titles, including the SAFF U15 Championship in 2017 and 2019, the SAFF U17 Championship in 2022 and 2025, and the SAFF U19 Championship in 2025.
His extensive experience in nurturing young talent through the international youth pathway is a significant asset for this age group.
Surinder Singh, who will assist Fernandes, has a diverse coaching background that includes both domestic club football and international youth coaching. An AFC Pro Licence holder, he has previously managed Delhi FC and Minerva Punjab FC and was part of the coaching staff for the Philippines U17 women's team that qualified for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2026.
The formation of the U15 men's national team is the result of a comprehensive talent identification initiative by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), aimed at ensuring that promising young players from across the nation are recognized and evaluated.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General Mr. M Satyanarayan stated, “The scouting process for this age group has been ongoing for nearly two years, predating FIFA's announcement of the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival. Our primary goal was to identify and nurture promising players for our AIFF-FIFA Talent Academies, focusing on those born in 2011 and 2012. The timing has aligned perfectly, allowing us to prepare these players for the U15 World Cup.”
Over 12,000 players were evaluated during the last two seasons, with scouts working across various competitions and regions to identify talent. This extensive effort has provided a robust pool for selecting and developing players for this opportunity. The inaugural U15 World Cup and Festival presents an exciting platform for these young athletes, and we aim to equip them with the necessary exposure and preparation.
As part of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, AIFF has broadened its scouting network under the motto 'Giving Every Talent A Chance.'
For the 2011-2012 age group, over 12,000 boys were assessed nationwide during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons, with evaluations conducted by a dedicated team of 60 scouts, including former international players and AIFF-licensed coaches.
The scouting network monitored players across more than 20 competitions and football platforms, including the AIFF Elite, Junior and Sub-Junior Youth Leagues, National Football Championships, School Games Federation of India competitions, Reliance Foundation youth leagues, Subroto Cup, and various state and district leagues.
This expanded scouting program has led AIFF to adopt a more district-focused scouting model. Through professional development workshops and ongoing collaboration with local scouts, including former international players and licensed coaches, AIFF aims to enhance its talent identification capabilities.
The most promising players identified through competitions and open trials were invited to central trials at the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy in Bhubaneswar and Hyderabad. A total of 160 players participated in the Bhubaneswar trials, while another 205 were assessed in Hyderabad.
These central trials allowed players from various regions to compete against each other and be benchmarked against a national talent pool.
The selection process was not limited to those already competing in AIFF events. To broaden the program's reach, state associations were invited to conduct trials in their areas, with the top performers recommended for central assessments.
This approach enabled players to enter the national talent identification pathway, regardless of their previous participation in AIFF competitions.
AIFF's talent identification efforts also extend internationally, tracking Indian players developing in academies and clubs abroad, with their performances monitored as part of the national talent pool.
The combination of domestic scouting, state-level trials, central assessments, and overseas monitoring has allowed AIFF to create a more structured player pool for the national team.
The inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival 2026 is set to take place in Azerbaijan from October 22 to 31, with participation open to all FIFA Member Associations.
The ongoing camp in Bengaluru is currently in a trial phase, with coaching staff evaluating players before finalizing the 14-member squad for the tournament. Prior to the camp, head coach Bibiano Fernandes visited the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy in Odisha from August 12 to 15.
Players are being invited in batches for trials, with new participants joining the assessment process, while those not retained are released back to their clubs and academies. As part of the camp, players will also gain match experience through friendly matches against older age-group teams from clubs and academies. Closer to the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival, AIFF plans to arrange international friendlies against other U15 national teams as part of the Blue Colts' final preparations.