The first FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival began in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Saturday, with Algeria, Cameroon and Morocco among the African sides to record early victories.

The tournament is bringing together 189 national teams, making it one of the largest international football events ever staged. Algeria produced one of the opening day’s most notable results by beating Argentina 1-0, with Abdelkarim Meharzi scoring in the 31st minute.

Morocco also started strongly, defeating the Philippines 2-0. Safouan Bellamine opened the scoring after six minutes before Said Noufii doubled the advantage in the 18th minute.

Cameroon completed a convincing win in the day’s African meeting with Senegal, winning 3-0. Fareilromain Ngobo put the Lionceaux Indomptables ahead in the 17th minute, Andy Daniel Massoda added a second three minutes later and Randy Ngome completed the scoring in the 32nd minute.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo had a more difficult opening, losing 3-2 to El Salvador despite goals from Charles Shina in the 27th minute and Elie Lobwa in the 35th minute.

Elsewhere, South Africa recorded the biggest African victory of the day by beating the Maldives 8-0. Tunisia defeated Nepal 3-1, while Congo edged Tajikistan 3-2.

Guinea-Bissau suffered an 8-0 loss to Brazil, and Burundi were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Portugal. Malawi overcame Chinese Taipei 3-2, while Zimbabwe also claimed a 3-2 victory, against Cambodia.

Lesotho won another all-African contest, beating Gabon 3-2. Central African Republic, meanwhile, were defeated 4-0 by China.

Twenty African national teams are taking part in the inaugural World Cup, which is being held from 24 to 30 October in Baku. The competition features 78 federations whose teams have never previously played at a World Cup at any age group.

A different format

Matches are played eight-a-side on smaller pitches, with two 20-minute halves. Almost 1,000 games are scheduled during the tournament, with as many as 20 matches taking place at the same time.

No team is eliminated early. Following the opening group phase, the participants are placed into six divisions according to their results. Every side continues playing until the final day, with a winner crowned in each division and the overall world champion coming from Division A.

The competition is designed primarily to give players aged 14 or 15 more opportunities to play international football. It also offers many of them their first chance to travel abroad.

During the week-long event, the young players will stay together in an athletes’ village, encounter different cultures, meet peers from across the world and take part in educational activities.

Not every participant will go on to become a professional footballer, and some may never play at another international tournament. However, the event gives them the opportunity to visit a new country, form relationships they might otherwise never have made and gain an experience that could stay with them for years.

For national teams that are rarely seen on the world stage, that opportunity is particularly significant.