India began their campaign at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival Azerbaijan 2026 with a 4-2 victory over Laos in their Group K opener at the Hovsan Competition Complex Pitch 1B in Baku on Saturday, IANS reported. Captain Macdonnish Ngairangbam and R Lalremruatfela gave India an early two-goal lead before Laos fought back to level the match.

Source: IANS via IANS Live

Macdonnish opened the scoring in the 7th minute, tapping in after Deepak Singh Arambam's work in the box, and Lalremruatfela doubled the lead in the 11th minute with a left-footed finish. Anavin Xayyasone pulled one back for Laos a minute later, and Souksavanh Siliseng equalised in the 24th minute, soon after half-time.

Source: IANS via IANS Live

4-2India's winning scoreline against Laos
7' and 11'Macdonnish and Lalremruatfela put India 2-0 up
31' and 33'Lalremruatfela and Sarkar restore the lead
189 teamsin 32 groups at the inaugural festival

India finished strong: Lalremruatfela scored his second in the 31st minute, firing into the far corner from outside the box, and Soumojit Sarkar made it 4-2 two minutes later with a strike from just inside the halfway line over the goalkeeper, IANS reported via NewKerala. The result gave Bibiano Fernandes' Blue Colts their first three points at a FIFA tournament.

Source: IANS via NewKerala

The tournament features 189 national teams divided into 32 groups, with matches played in an eight-a-side format, two 20-minute halves and rolling substitutions, IANS reported. India next face Cameroon and Grenada on Sunday, before concluding the qualification stage against Bahrain and Senegal on October 26, KhelNow reported; their results across the five matches will determine which performance tier they enter for the second phase.

Source: KhelNow

Sources: IANS via IANS Live, October 24, 2026; IANS via NewKerala, October 24, 2026; and KhelNow, October 24, 2026, reporting the Group K match in Baku.

Source: IANS via IANS Live