The key facts
- Russia U15 squad — 14 players, including Matvei Abdulkhalikov (Dynamo).
- The team departs for Baku on October 21; the tournament runs until October 31.
- Group-stage opponents — Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Turkey; format — 8-a-side, two 20-minute halves.
Squad and trip
The Russian Football Union has approved the final squad of the Russian under-15 youth national team for the world championship and FIFA festival in Azerbaijan, the organization's press service reported. The squad includes 14 players, among them Dynamo Moscow midfielder Matvei Abdulkhalikov. The team will depart for Baku on October 21 and begin its performance at the international tournament on October 22; the tournament concludes on October 31.
Who made the squad
The goalkeeper line will consist of Andrei Shchadilov (Moscow Dynamo) and Rodion Izyumsky (Zenit). Called up in defense are Semyon Savosin (Akron), Daniil Kon (Krasnodar), Egor Goryainov (Zenit) and Karim Zalyalov (Rubin). The midfield is represented by Matvei Abdulkhalikov (Dynamo), Arsen Bestaev (CSKA), Anatoly Tsimin (Krasnodar), Ivan Kazakevich and Alexander Olkhovsky (both — Rodina), as well as Ilya Khabry (Zenit). The forwards are Matvei Rodionov (Spartak) and Egor Lyusin (Lokomotiv).
Opponents and format
In the preliminary stage, the Russians will play against peers from Afghanistan, Djibouti, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Turkey. The team will then play five more matches against opponents who finished in the same positions in other groups. The tournament will follow unusual rules: eight players from each team will be on the field at the same time, and a match will last 40 minutes — two halves of 20 minutes each.
Context
Life.ru previously reported that the Russian national team will perform at a FIFA tournament with its flag and anthem for the first time since 2022; at that time, the team's preliminary-stage opponents also became known.
