FIFA U-15 World Cup 2026: Pakistan's 5 Matches in Baku, Times in PKT

Pakistan play five matches in three days at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The first is against Gambia on Saturday 24 October at 3:30 pm Pakistan time. Then come South Sudan and Cyprus on 25 October, and Jordan and Nigeria on 26 October.

We read FIFA's official match schedule, version dated 5 October 2026, and FIFA's own release and explainer about the event on 10 October. We then turned every Baku kick-off into Pakistan Standard Time. Baku is one hour behind Pakistan, so 2:30 pm there is 3:30 pm here.

This is a new tournament. FIFA calls it historic, and every FIFA member association was eligible to enter. For Pakistan's boys born in 2011 or 2012, it is the biggest stage they have ever had.

Pakistan's U-15 World Cup 2026 fixtures in Group AD

Pakistan are in Group AD with Cyprus, Gambia, Jordan, Nigeria and South Sudan. They play all five group games between 24 and 26 October at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, with two double-headers on the 25th and 26th.

FIFA marks every time on the schedule as local and "subject to change". The two double-header days have a gap of about six to seven hours between games, which is enough rest for 40-minute matches.

How the U-15 World Cup and Festival works

Matches are eight-a-side, with two halves of 20 minutes on a pitch of 68 by 47 metres with full-size goals. Each team brings 14 players and up to six staff. Every team plays at least nine matches across two stages, so no side goes home after three games.

FIFA's format has a few rules Pakistani fans will not know from senior football:

• Kick-ins instead of throw-ins. The ball comes back into play with the foot.
• Offside only near goal. The offside line is 14 metres from the goal line, FIFA's explainer says.
• Unlimited substitutions. Coaches can rotate all 14 players.
• Players born in 2011 or 2012. That is the age rule in FIFA's release.

About 3,000 players, coaches and officials take part. FIFA's release talks of nearly 1,000 games. The schedule shows 20 matches at a time on the Hovsan pitches, with the first kick-off at 9:00 am and the last at 8:45 pm Baku time.

Key dates from 22 to 31 October

Teams arrive on 22 October and train on 23 October. The group stage runs from 24 to 26 October, with a rest day on 27 October. The tournament stage is on 28 and 29 October, and the tier finals are on 30 October at Baku Crystal Hall.

1. Thursday 22 October: arrival day.
2. Friday 23 October: training day.
3. Saturday 24 October: match day 1, plus the opening ceremony and Azerbaijan v Timor-Leste at Crystal Hall.
4. Sunday 25 and Monday 26 October: match days 2 and 3, the rest of the qualification stage.
5. Tuesday 27 October: rest day.
6. Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October: tournament stage, match days 4 and 5.
7. Friday 30 October: six tier finals and the closing ceremony at Crystal Hall.
8. Saturday 31 October: departure day.

What the tiers mean for Pakistan

After the group stage, teams move into one of six performance tiers based on their group results. Each tier then has its own competition and its own winner. A good group stage puts Pakistan in a stronger tier. A poor one still gives them four or five more games against teams at a similar level.

That is the clever part of the design. Pakistan's group has three African sides, Nigeria, Gambia and South Sudan, plus Jordan from Asia and Cyprus from Europe. At this age, the experience matters more than any single result. A spread of opponents like this is rare for Pakistani teenagers, who mostly meet South Asian sides.

FIFA has not published the tier match times in the schedule we read, because they depend on group results. Expect them after 26 October.

Pakistan's squad, the training camp and where to follow

A 21-player provisional squad and a training camp in Lahore from 6 October have been reported, but the Pakistan Football Federation has not posted them on its website, which shows no news after June. FIFA allows only 14 players per team, so seven names must be cut before Baku.

We could not find a broadcaster for Pakistan, or any FIFA statement on streaming, in the pages we read. Here is the practical plan for fans:

• Save the five Pakistan kick-off times above in your phone, in Pakistan time.
• Check FIFA's tournament pages on the morning of 24 October for any late time changes.
• Watch the PFF's official social accounts for the final 14-man squad and line-ups.

Pakistan's senior men were in action recently at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, and their next tournament is the SAFF Championship 2026 in Dhaka, which starts with India on 5 November. Young players in Islamabad can also look at the PSB football academy for regular coaching.

Common questions

When does Pakistan play at the FIFA U-15 World Cup 2026?

On 24, 25 and 26 October 2026. The first match is against Gambia on Saturday 24 October at 3:30 pm Pakistan time.

Which group is Pakistan in?

Group AD, with Cyprus, Gambia, Jordan, Nigeria and South Sudan.

Where is the U-15 World Cup being played?

In Baku, Azerbaijan. Group games are at the Hovsan Competition Complex, and the opening match and tier finals are at Baku Crystal Hall.

What is the time difference between Baku and Pakistan?

Baku is one hour behind Pakistan. Add one hour to any Baku kick-off time to get Pakistan time.

How many players can Pakistan take?

Fourteen players and up to six staff, under FIFA's rules for the event.

Who can play in the U-15 World Cup?

Players born in 2011 or 2012, FIFA says.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 10 October 2026 at about 20:30 PKT. Groups, fixtures, kick-off times and pitches are from FIFA's "FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 Match Schedule" file, dated 5 October 2026, on FIFA's digital hub. Format, squad size, age rule, venues and the number of games are from FIFA's media release of 18 September 2026 and its explainer of 1 October 2026 on inside.fifa.com. Pakistan times are our own conversion from Baku time. The provisional squad and the Lahore camp are reported only, and we did not confirm them with the PFF.