FIFA president Gianni Infantino explored ambitious plans with private investors to create a 211-nation Under-15 World Cup inspired by baseball's Little League. The commercial blueprint included staging ceremonies at Walt Disney World and an opening fixture between Israel and Palestine before the concept was quietly shelved ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
IFK Gotemburgo
