Bulgarian football legend and former Barcelona striker Hristo Stoichkov has emphasized the importance of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, which will take place in Azerbaijan from October 24 to 30.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing FIFA's official website, the 1994 Ballon d'Or winner described the competition as a valuable opportunity for young players to gain international experience and take important steps in their development.
"In my opinion, the FIFA U-15 World Cup is extremely important. I always welcome tournaments like this because it is through these competitions that young footballers begin to develop and understand what the future may hold for them," Stoichkov said.
The former Bulgarian international also welcomed his country's participation in the tournament, highlighting the need to develop more players capable of competing at the highest level of European football.
"Bulgaria is returning to an important competition at a time when we don't have many Bulgarian players at Europe's strongest clubs. Yes, we have footballers playing in Italy, Germany and England, but there should be more of them. This tournament is a good opportunity for their development," he explained.
Stoichkov also commented on Bulgaria's upcoming encounter with Scotland, recalling the history of meetings between the two national teams.
"Bulgaria has played many matches against Scotland since the 1970s, including during my playing career. Scotland have always been strong opponents. I hope Bulgaria can find a way to win this time," he added.
The legendary forward expressed hope that the tournament in Azerbaijan would demonstrate FIFA's commitment to developing youth football worldwide.
"I hope and wish that the FIFA U-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan will show both the players and the entire world how much importance FIFA attaches to the development of youth football," Stoichkov stressed.
The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival will be held in Baku from October 24 to 30, bringing together teams representing 189 national football associations. Notably, 78 of them will be participating in a FIFA World Cup competition for the first time.
The tournament will feature eight-a-side football, with each match consisting of two 20-minute halves.
Most matches will be played at the Hovsan Competition Complex, while the opening fixture and finals will take place at Baku Crystal Hall.
The competition represents a significant milestone in FIFA's efforts to expand international football opportunities for young players and promote the sport across different regions of the world.
