WILLEMSTAD (DA) — Curaçao’s under-15 national football team will compete with a 14-player squad at the inaugural FIFA U-15 Festival, scheduled for Oct. 22-30 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The team will face Belize, Costa Rica, Liberia, Morocco and the Philippines in Group F. All matches will take place at the Hovsan complex in the Azerbaijani capital.
The Curaçao Football Federation (FFK) announced the squad’s selection after several weeks of preparation. The group includes 2 goalkeepers, with eligibility limited to players born in 2011 or 2012.
The festival is designed to give young players international experience while helping them prepare for future competitions. According to the FFK, 198 FIFA member associations are scheduled to participate.
Teams will play 8-a-side on smaller fields, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves and a five-minute halftime break. The schedule allows for one or two matches per day.
Group results will determine placement in the next phase, giving teams further matches against international opposition. The FFK said each participating team is scheduled to play at least 10 matches during the festival.
FIFA opened the event to all 211 member associations, regardless of their size or football history. Each delegation must consist of 14 players, including 2 goalkeepers, and 6 staff members.
For the FFK, the trip offers its young players an opportunity to develop against opponents from different football backgrounds and gain experience beyond domestic competition.