Coach Patrick Nyale prepares Kenya U-15 for new FIFA challenge

Coach Patrick Nyale prepares Kenya U-15 for new FIFA challenge - Kenya U-15 in training. (Photo: FKF)

The coach said the team has also worked extensively on its tactical organisation, covering defensive, midfield and attacking structures as well as set pieces.

Kenya U-15 head coach Patrick Nyale believes his players are ready to embrace a new challenge when they take part in the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The tournament, which kicks off on October 22 and runs until October 30, brings together a record 191 FIFA Member Associations in a new competition designed to give young players from across the world an opportunity to gain international experience.

Unlike conventional FIFA tournaments, the competition will be played in an 8v8 format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. The format is also designed around player development, with matches played on smaller pitches and every team guaranteed continued competition through the final matchday.

Nyale said Kenya have tailored their preparations to the demands of the format, particularly the need for players to make quick decisions and utilise the spaces available to them.

“This is a different format because we are playing eight-a-side. The players have to be able to use the small spaces, take on opponents one-on-one and make the right decisions,” Nyale said.

The coach said the team has also worked extensively on its tactical organisation, covering defensive, midfield and attacking structures as well as set pieces.

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“We have worked on the defensive line, midfield, attack and set pieces. We have ticked almost every box, and we have plans for how we will attack, defend and stop the opponents,” he said.

The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival was introduced by the FIFA Council in December 2025 as part of efforts to provide meaningful international competition to young players from all 211 FIFA Member Associations, particularly nations that traditionally find it difficult to qualify for major FIFA tournaments.

The 2026 edition will feature nearly 1,000 matches, with up to 20 fixtures being played simultaneously across the tournament's multiple pitches. Teams will first go through a qualification stage before being placed into six performance tiers based on their results, ensuring that every participating nation continues playing for the duration of the event.

For Nyale, the tournament is therefore as much about development as it is about competition.

“My success will be making sure the players can express themselves well, understand the basics and represent the country properly. We want them to compete well and express themselves because, if they prove they are ready, they can be promoted to the U-17 level,” he said.

The tournament is the first of its kind for boys, with FIFA planning a girls' edition in 2027 before introducing separate boys' and girls' U-15 competitions for all Member Associations from 2028.