Young Piton Boys heading to U15 World Cup in Azerbaijan

Some of the nation’s top youth footballers will be jetting to Europe next month for the inaugural FIFA Under-15 Boys World Cup & Festival. The competition will be held from October 22 to 31 in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.

Some of the same lads who took part in the recent Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Under-14 Boys’ Challenge will line up for the young Piton Boyz. Over the past month, a group of 25 players has been training with FIFA talent identification coach Michael McLaughlin.

Most of these players come from the Saint Lucia Football Association’s High Performance Centre, but only 14 will be chosen for the trip. McLaughlin has praised the boys for their discipline, eagerness to learn and enthusiasm.

In Baku, the Saint Lucians will play small-sided games, with the schedule and opponents yet to be determined. Several other Caribbean territories have indicated an interest in participating, with an eye on next year’s Concacaf Under-15 competition.

FIFA will cover the costs of flights and accommodation for the World Cup & Festival, which takes place by the Caspian Sea. This first event sets the stage for a girls’ tournament in 2027, with plans for annual tournaments for both boys and girls starting in 2028.

(TF)

The article Young Piton Boys heading to U15 World Cup in Azerbaijan is from St. Lucia Times.