In a historic moment for Somalia, the Somali Football Federation (SFF) on Wednesday sent its Ocean Stars youngsters to the first-ever FIFA Under-15 World Cup to be staged in Baku, Azerbaijan, from October 24 to October 30, 2026.
This is the first time in history that Somalia will participate in a FIFA-level tournament, making the trip a historic milestone for a nation whose football has been rebuilding after more than three decades of conflicts and instability.
The team was seen off at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu by Somali Football Federation president, Ali Abdi Mohamed, who delivered an emotional farewell message to the young players before they boarded their flight to Baku.
“You are representing Somalia at the highest football level of your age – the FIFA Under-15 World Cup. You are lucky to be at the inaugural event and you are carrying our country’s flag on your shoulders,” President Ali Abdi Mohamed, told the youngsters.
“This will be Somalia’s first time to showcase at a FIFA level tournament and I am very proud that we will be there. This is history for Somalia and experience for you,” he added. The President urged the players to represent the country well and to demonstrate the highest level of sportsmanship during their stay in Azerbaijan.
Baku 2026 More Than a Tournament for Somalia
The FIFA U-15 World Cup is a new FIFA initiative aimed at accelerating youth development globally. For the inaugural edition in Baku, FIFA invited selected member associations from all six confederations to take part in a development-focused tournament that emphasizes education, fair play, and technical learning alongside competition. For Somalia, the participation goes far beyond results. It is official recognition by FIFA that Somali youth development structures are progressing in the right direction.
For years, Somali football survived on resilience alone. Domestic leagues were played in difficult conditions, youth academies operated with minimal resources, and national teams trained without proper facilities. The fact that Somalia is now among the first nations to feature in a FIFA U-15 World Cup shows how far the game has come under recent reforms.
Under President Ali Abdi Mohamed, the SFF has prioritized many things, among them: youth development, coaching education, women’s football and international exposure.
The Federation has established regional youth leagues, partnered with FIFA Forward to improve infrastructure, and increased participation in CECAFA and CAF youth competitions. The Baku squad is a direct product of that policy. Most of the players were scouted through the SFF’s national U-15 championship held earlier this year in Mogadishu and regional states, and have been in a centralized training camp for the past four months under the supervision of the national youth technical staff.
The experience in Azerbaijan will be invaluable. Playing against youth teams from Europe, South America, Asia and Africa at a FIFA-organized event will give Somali players tactical awareness, professional standards, and confidence that they cannot get at home.
Symbol of Hope for New Generation
The significance of this trip is not lost on the Somali public. Local media was filled with congratulatory messages for the team on Wednesday, with many Somalis calling it “a proud day for the nation.”
For the players themselves, most aged 13 and 14, this is a life-changing opportunity. Now they will walk out in Baku wearing the Somali blue jersey with the FIFA badge on their sleeves – an image that would have been unimaginable just five years ago.
President Ali Abdi Mohamed, described the moment as “the beginning, not the end.” He said the Federation’s goal is to ensure that Somalia’s presence at FIFA youth tournaments becomes regular.
“This is history, but we want to make history again and again. The next step is to qualify for AFCON U-20, as we already secured a place at AFCON U-17, 2027 and eventually the senior World Cup. The journey starts here with these young boys,” he said.
The team will spend two days in Baku attending FIFA workshops on integrity, anti-doping, and safeguarding before the tournament kicks off on October 24. Somalia has been drawn in a challenging group with strong opposition, but the SFF says the focus is on performance and learning.
As the flight took off from Mogadishu, carrying 16 young players, coaches and two federation officials, it carried with it the hopes of millions of Somalis at home and in the diaspora. From Mogadishu’s dusty playgrounds to the world stage in Baku – Somali football has finally arrived at FIFA level.