The England U15 team, managed by Matt Thorpe, are preparing to take part in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 24 to 30 October. The Young Lions will experience a new international competition, bringing together nearly 190 member associations in a format designed to support the development of young players. England will begin their campaign against Nicaragua on Saturday 24 October, before facing Cambodia the following day and Zimbabwe on Monday 26 October. The results of this opening phase will determine their opponents for the next stage of the competition.
A 14-man squad featuring several talents to watch
Matt Thorpe has named the maximum permitted squad of 14 players to represent England at this inaugural edition. The selection includes several young talents from some of English football’s most renowned academies, with Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United all represented. The squad also features Piers Pinnock, who plays for Benfica, alongside players from Blackburn Rovers, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town.
One player to keep an eye on is Ty Livesey. The Blackburn Rovers forward, who is just 15, has already made an impression this season, scoring three goals in four Premier League U18 appearances. That is an impressive return for a player competing against opponents who are older and more experienced.
The Young Lions will, however, need to adapt to a format that differs from that of conventional international tournaments. Matches will be played in an eight-a-side format, including the goalkeeper, on a reduced-size pitch, with two 20-minute halves. The format is designed to encourage players to get on the ball, compete in individual duels and experience more in-game situations, while providing greater exposure to international football. Unlike a traditional knockout tournament, all teams will continue to play matches beyond the group stage before being placed into different tiers based on their results.
England will therefore have several opportunities to make their mark in Baku, with the aim of making a strong start to this historic competition and progressing through to the final day, scheduled for 30 October.
England U15s squad list:
Goalkeepers:
- Arlo Tye (Derby County)
- Tom Armytage (Plymouth Argyle)
Defenders:
- Abdul-Muiz Odusanya-Edunfunke (West Bromwich Albion)
- Shakeel Charles (Sheffield United)
- Joseph Akinsanya (Manchester United)
- Piers Pinnock (Benfica)
- Rocco Derefaka (Blackburn Rovers)
Midfielders:
- Isaac Allen (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Azae Bonnick (Nottingham Forest)
- Brian Nyonyi (Manchester United)
Forwards:
- Kobi Akerele (Liverpool)
- Emmanuel Famokun (West Ham United)
- Tommy McLoughlin (Ipswich Town)
- Ty Livesey (Blackburn Rovers)
