Singapore’s under-15 football team concluded their campaign at the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, finishing 141st out of 189 teams. The tournament, held from October 24 to 30, featured an eight-a-side format with 20-minute halves, bringing together young players from around the world at the Hovsan Competition Complex.
After competing in 10 matches over seven days, Singapore closed their participation with a 4-1 victory over Eswatini in the Tier E knockout rounds on October 30. Despite not reaching their target of a top-30 finish, the team showed promising aspects in their gameplay, particularly in build-up and progression through midfield, according to head coach Ashraf Ariffin.
“While there are positives to take away, especially in our build-up play, we know improvements are needed,” Ashraf said. He highlighted the need for greater attacking efficiency in creating and converting chances, as well as enhanced defensive intensity and resilience in duels.
Singapore’s journey began in the qualification stage with four consecutive losses to Guatemala (1-0), Honduras (3-0), Canada (6-0), and Guinea (6-0). The team then secured a dominant 12-0 win over American Samoa to finish fifth in their group, placing them in the Tier E knockout phase. In this stage, they opened with a 9-0 win against the British Virgin Islands, followed by a narrow penalty shootout loss to Bangladesh after a 1-1 draw, and a heavy 7-0 defeat to Hong Kong. The Cubs rebounded with an 8-3 triumph over St Vincent and the Grenadines before ending on a high note against Eswatini.
Forward Adryan Alfian stood out as Singapore’s top scorer, netting 10 goals across the tournament, including two in the final match. Midfielder Iman Naqib and forward Kyen Sasikumar also contributed significantly, with Sasikumar scoring seven goals.
Team captain Iman Naqib described the experience as invaluable, emphasizing the high level of competition and the opportunity to face technically and tactically strong opponents. “The tournament taught us how important it is to adapt quickly to different environments and challenges,” he said, highlighting the personal and professional growth gained through the event.
Coach Ashraf stressed the importance of international exposure for player development. “Our goal is to prepare these players mentally and physically for the demands of international football, so they can eventually contribute to Singapore’s national teams,” he explained.
The Singapore squad comprised 14 players, with the majority drawn from the Lion City Sailors’ academy, alongside members from the Unleash The Roar! National Development Centre programme, the Singapore Sports School, and two based in Spain.
The tournament itself saw Spain claim the championship with a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic in the final. Within the Asian Football Confederation, Australia and South Korea topped their groups, finishing 33rd and 25th respectively. Malaysia led Southeast Asian nations, placing 56th, followed by Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Singapore.
The event was marked by some controversy, including Germany’s decision to abstain, citing concerns over the suitability of such a competition for their youth players at this stage. Russia participated and finished 19th under restrictions stemming from a ban on older age groups, while Ukraine opted out amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
FIFA’s chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, praised the inaugural tournament, highlighting its role in offering opportunities to smaller nations and promoting competitive balance among youth players globally. Plans for the 2027 edition include the introduction of girls’ teams, with both boys’ and girls’ competitions scheduled for 2028.