U15 World Cup: Kenya kicks off inaugural FIFA event with successive wins

Kenya extended their brilliant start to the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan, after the junior boys’ team secured back-to-back victories with a commanding 5–1 triumph over Panama on Sunday, October 25, 2026.

Attacking prodigy Innocent Media was once again the centerpiece of Kenya’s heroics, delivering a masterclass performance to fire the East African nation to their second consecutive win of the campaign.

Winning start

The decisive victory follows an explosive tournament opener on Friday, October 23, 2026, where the Kenyan side announced themselves on the global stage in Asia-adjacent Transcaucasia with an emphatic 6–2 victory over European opposition Malta.

Kenya brushes Panama aside

Playing under the tournament’s fast-paced format of 20-minute halves, the young Stars took control of the contest early in the opening half.

Lewis Wafula broke the deadlock in the tenth minute before Silas Juma doubled the advantage with a clinical finish. Innocent Media then capped off the opening period to ensure Kenya went into the break with a comfortable 3–1 cushion.

Kenya U15 team in Azerbaijan. PHOTO/https://web.facebook.com/officialharambeestars — The Kenya U15 boys team in Baku, Azerbaijan. PHOTO/https://web.facebook.com/officialharambeestars

Media sealed the victory in the closing minutes of the second half, completing a sensational brace. The St. Joseph’s Boys High School Kitale student, who wears the iconic number 10 shirt, has now emerged as Kenya’s leading scorer at the global showcase with three goals.

He is tied with Bwake Boys forward, Muyah, who had set the tone for the tournament with a hat-trick of his own during Friday’s opening win over Malta.

FIFA-sanctioned tournament

This historic festival brings together 189 countries for the first-ever global tournament at this age level, featuring nearly 1,000 matches and over 3,000 young footballers at the Hovsan Olympic Complex.

FKF president Hussein Mohammed, who accompanied the team for the games, has lauded the initiative for exposing the young star to the rigours of the game at an early age, highlighting it as key for talent identification and nurturing.

The team was selected from high schools across the country, with the final team assembled at the end of September 2026 for a camp in Nairobi.