Bangladesh Target Top Spot in Group at FIFA U-15 Festival in Azerbaijan
Bangladesh Under-15 football team captain Fahim Hasan has expressed determination to finish at the top of their group in the upcoming FIFA U-15 Festival and World Cup in Azerbaijan.
PothikTV News Desk: 20 October 2026, 9:18 am
Bangladesh Under-15 football team captain Fahim Hasan has stated that his side aims to finish as group champions in the upcoming FIFA U-15 Festival and World Cup taking place in Azerbaijan.
For the first time, world football’s governing body FIFA has expanded the Under-15 Festival into a global event. A total of 191 countries are participating in the tournament, divided into 32 groups.
Bangladesh have been placed in Group C alongside Wales, Portugal, Burundi, Indonesia, and Fiji. Under the tournament format, only the champions from each of the 32 groups will advance to the knockout stage, while the remaining teams will move to the plate competition.
Despite facing tough opponents like Wales and Portugal, Bangladesh captain Fahim Hasan expressed confidence in his team’s ability. He noted that their preparation has been solid and that they are ready to put up a strong fight in every match to top the group.
Head coach Akbar Hossain Ridon shared details about the tournament setup, explaining that matches will feature two halves of 20 minutes each with eight-player squads. Bangladesh will play two matches per day on October 25 and 26. He added that the squad trained for nearly three months specifically adapted to this schedule.
State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Huq, who is a former captain of the Bangladesh national football team, visited the players at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) house to encourage them. Reminiscing about his own early playing days, he highlighted the significant opportunity for young players to compete against strong international sides like Wales and Portugal.
During the meeting, captain Fahim requested better quality football boots for the team. Responding to the request, the State Minister announced that he would provide quality boots for all squad members and specialized gloves for the two goalkeepers, promising further rewards if the team performs well in the tournament.
