FIFA will be bringing to fore three special team awards at the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with participating players voting to recognise teams that demonstrate distinctive identity, unity and positive energy.
Unlike traditional FIFA tournaments, where individual accolades such as the Golden Ball and Golden Boot attract attention, the youth competition will focus exclusively on collective achievements, with no individual honours or Fair Play award.
The three awards — Distinctive Identity, United by Football and Positive Energy, will recognise teams that distinguish themselves through their playing style, togetherness, behaviour and attitude both on and off the pitch.
The tournament, which brings together 189 teams, is also a landmark event for global youth football, with 78 FIFA Member Associations making their FIFA World Cup debut.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the competition had demonstrated football’s ability to create opportunities, foster friendships and bring people together across national and cultural boundaries.
“Having witnessed the incredible energy, spirit of competition, shared moments of happiness and forging of new friendships across all 189 FIFA Member Associations competing in this historic event, we are further motivated to continue taking football to everyone, everywhere,” Infantino said.
“We want to keep giving every talent a chance and ensure our game can be the cause of smiles and opportunities throughout the world.”
How the awards decisions will be made
FIFA said the awards would be determined through a peer-voting process, allowing participating teams to select the sides that have impressed them most throughout the tournament and festival.
Voting documents will be available to teams in the Athletes’ Village, where players will be invited to recognise opponents who display exciting, positive football and maintain an outstanding presence throughout the event.
The process is designed to make the awards a reflection of the players’ own experiences, rather than a decision based solely on statistics or assessments by tournament officials.
The three awards will be presented as trophies, without medals, at the end of the festival.
The Distinctive Identity Award will honour teams with a clear and consistent personality, reflected in their values, playing style, teamwork and conduct during matches and festival activities.
The United by Football Award will recognise teams whose togetherness is evident both on and off the pitch, including their collective behaviour, encouragement of teammates and ability to create a strong sense of unity.
The Positive Energy Award will celebrate the team that best embodies enthusiasm and positivity throughout the competition. Players’ body language, conduct on the bench, encouragement of teammates and responses to difficult situations will all contribute to the assessment.
Recognising football beyond results
FIFA said the awards were intended to highlight qualities that extend beyond match results, particularly as young players from different countries and cultures interact, build friendships and find common ground through football.
With participants speaking different languages and representing diverse backgrounds, the festival provides an opportunity for young footballers to develop relationships while competing on an international stage.
The awards are designed to recognise teams that establish a strong identity, support one another and maintain a positive attitude in competition and their wider interactions.
With these introductions, FIFA is placing collective character and peer recognition at the centre of the inaugural U-15 World Cup and Festival, reinforcing its message that football can unite young people across the nations of the world at large.
