Football Australia will establish its youngest-ever national programs, introducing boys' and girls' Under-15 National Select sides that will compete in the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™.
The new boys' and girls' squads will join Football Australia's existing national teams as the organisation's newest national programs, with the boys' side set to play in the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™ in Azerbaijan this October.
Meanwhile, the girls' edition will debut in the female edition of the FIFA U-15 World Cup next year. From 2028, both the boys' and girls' U-15 World Cups will be held annually.
Football Australia also confirmed the establishment of a new Pathways Talent Identification Lead role, with current CommBank Junior Matildas (U-17) head coach Michael Cooper appointed to lead the strategy behind the Under-15 programs.
Cooper will fully transition into the role after guiding the CommBank Junior Matildas through the FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, held from 17 October to 7 November 2026.
These new programs will provide Australia's brightest young prospects with their first authentic experience of international tournament football.
The announcement is another milestone in a highly successful year for Australia's youth pathways, following the recent achievements of both the Under-17 Boys (Joeys) and Under-17 Girls (Junior Matildas) in qualifying for their respective FIFA World Cups in the same calendar year.
Scheduled for October 22-31 in Azerbaijan, the new U-15 tournament departs from the traditional 11-a-side structure. FIFA has introduced a modified, fast-paced format designed to increase ball-in-play time and encourage rapid decision-making.
Quotes attributable to Football Australia Executive Director of Football, Heather Garriock:
"It's been a fantastic year for our National Youth Teams and youth football in general, and great progress has been made. Seeing both the Joeys and Junior Matildas qualify for their World Cups shows the depth of talent coming through our pathways right now.
"Adding these Under-15 programs is the next logical step and it's wonderful to give aspiring young footballers early exposure to international football.
"These U-15 and U-17 players are sitting right in the sweet spot for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The boys will be exactly the right age to form the core of the Under-23 Olyroos, and we hope it's the start of a long international journey for many.
"We're excited to have Michael lead the new Football Australia department, which will lead the national approach to talent identification and development to help strengthen the National Teams."
Quotes attributable to incoming Football Australia Pathways Talent Identification Lead, Michael Cooper:
"I look forward to taking on the new role, while focusing on our immediate goal of making an impact with the Junior Matildas at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Morocco.
"Our aim is to connect the various stages of the Australian football ecosystem - from schools, grassroots and community football through to clubs, Member Federations, A-League academies and national programs - to the national team pathway.
"This aligns closely with Football Australia's current Talent Development Scheme (TDS), which emphasises multiple entry points, repeated observations and long-term monitoring of players.
"The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™ will be a key part of the department's processes and will link to the CommBank Emerging Championships. It will be exciting to lay the foundations for our youngest teams' first entry into international football, where they will have an opportunity to face different nations and varying styles from all over the world."
