Germany sit out FIFA Under-15 World Cup as Russia return

With nearly 1,000 matches and 189 teams, the Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan is bloated even by FIFA's usual standards. It marks a change in its attitude to children's international tournaments, which have not existed on anywhere near this scale before.

For Germany, it is too much too soon. The German FA (DFB) told DW that it had "consciously decided not to participate." The statement from the organization suggested the DFB — whose development of young players is under scrutiny after a run of poor performances by the men's national team — felt such a tournament was not appropriate for players so young.

"At this age level, our identification and development process is still underway, and we therefore do not believe it is appropriate to nominate a fixed squad for an international tournament at this stage," it read.

"More broadly, the DFB's approach to talent development is based on the principle of supporting young players in a long-term and age-appropriate manner. We carefully assess at which stage international competitions and development measures are beneficial for each age group.

"In our view, young talents should not be exposed too early to the accompanying aspects of professional football. These include increased expectations and pressure, public evaluation of their performances, and early interest from agents and the football market."

The refusal to play in the tournament, which began this week, is consistent with Germany's more cautious approach to youth development. While in some leagues, like the Premier League in England, there is no regulation about youths playing professionally, in Germany's top flight, the Bundesliga, players must be 16. In fact, before the 2020-21 season, players could not be granted a pro license before they were 17 years and six months old.

That change enabled Youssoufa Moukoko to make his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Dortmund a day after his 16th birthday in 2020, becoming the league's youngest player in the process.

But, some would argue his is a cautionary tale. Hyped wildly due to his goalscoring exploits at youth level, Moukoko was fast-tracked by Dortmund and Germany, who called him up for the 2022 World Cup. Now, still just 21, he is struggling for game time and goals on loan at Corum, in the Turkish Super League, from Danish side Copenhagen.

Players under 16 are also forbidden by FIFA from having an agent. But this is poorly regulated in some regions of the world. That led Bundesliga club St. Pauli, then in the second division, to announce they would no longer work with player agents or private agencies in their youth system in 2023.

"We want to focus on partnership and dialogue with the players, their families and their relatives," explained the head of the club's youth academy, Benjamin Liedtke, as St. Pauli officially positioned themselves "against the commercialization of youth football."

Germany are one of 22 nations to refuse the invitation to compete in the tournament, 18 of whom are from UEFA, Europe's confederation. The USA are also one of the prominent refusals alongside Ukraine, whose FA told German public broadcaster Sportschau that they initially refused on sporting grounds before claiming that "other countries indicated that they would compete but did not want to play against Russia." DW contacted a number of FAs to clarify this point but is yet to receive a response.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has become a notorious figure thanks to a number of scandals over the past year, told Sky in February: "We have to [look at reinstating Russia], definitely, because this ban has not achieved anything. It has just created frustration and hatred. Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help."

Eight months later, he has his wish. The ongoing tournament, billed as the "FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival" comprises eight-a-side games with 20 minute halves, a smaller pitch and a number of other technical tweaks. FIFA say the 2027 edition will be for girls teams only.

"Young players need meaningful matches, different opponents and different football experiences in order to develop. Talent exists everywhere, but the opportunities available to young players are not always the same," said FIFA Chief of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, likely referencing that teams from Bhutan and Seychelles to the Bahamas and Vanuatu are present.

"This tournament gives players from across the world the chance to compete, to learn and to grow."

FIFA are yet to respond to a DW request for further comment.

The round robin stage, according to FIFA, has placed teams in "groups that provide diverse sporting and regional representation" but also appears to have, at least initially, kept apart nations in conflict with each other.

For example, Israel and Palestine or Kosovo and Serbia are not in the same groups but could, in theory, meet in the later stages of the tournament. This would not be allowed in senior football, thanks to various bans and workarounds.

FIFA are vague about how the tournament works after the round robin, saying only that it will consist of "four to five additional matches per team, determined by results and subsequent tier placement. [There will be] one winner for each of the six tiers." It also said that the winner of the top tier will be crowned champions but all teams will play matches until the tournament concludes on October 30.

But, given that they have been banned from international football since invading Ukraine in 2022, it is the presence of a Russian national team at a FIFA tournament that will likely heap the most controversy on to young shoulders. Though a Russian presence was not the reason for German refusal, not attending for sporting reasons may also turn out to be a smart piece of sport politics.