MBABANE — Eswatini will make its historic debut at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking its first appearance at a global football tournament.
For a nation that has never qualified for a major tournament at either junior or senior level, the invitation marks a monumental shift. Historically constrained by the gruelling demands of continental qualifiers, the kingdom’s footballing aspirations have long been halted well before reaching the global stage. Now, thanks to a landmark International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Council decision to open the tournament to all member associations without traditional qualification barriers, Eswatini finally takes its place among 191 participating nations.
The tournament, taking place from October 24-30, 2026 at the Hovsan Competition Complex and Baku Crystal Hall, introduces an innovative eight-versus-eight format on modified pitches with two 20-minute halves. Designed as a two-phase tiered competition, nations will compete in 32 initial round-robin groups before being funnelled into six performance tiers, ranging from Tier A to Tier F. Crucially, no team faces early elimination, guaranteeing that Eswatini’s young stars will play through to the final matchday and gain invaluable international exposure against top-tier global opposition.
The excitement surrounding the nation’s historic inclusion is palpable within the domestic football community. Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe confirmed the country’s acceptance of the invitation, signalling a new era for local youth development. While technical details remain guarded, the national setup is already preparing for the venture ahead, with further updates expected during an upcoming media day.
“The team is in place. More official updates will follow during the national team’s media day,” Radebe said briefly.
Meanwhile, the Under-15s boys recorded a historic bronze medal finish at the December 2025 Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Schools Football Championship COSAFA Qualifiers in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
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