Panaji: In the eyes of India coach Bibiano Fernandes, the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a winner even before the tournament kicks off on Saturday.From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and Aruba to Timor-Leste, 78 countries, representing every corner of the football world, are making their debut at the World Cup involving 189 teams. This is not a first for India; they’ve been there before at the FIFA U-17 World Cups for men and women, as hosts in 2017 and 2022. But beyond the numbers, the six-day celebration of youth football has made a good start.Matches will be played in an 8-a-side format, on smaller pitches, with rolling substitutions. More importantly, every team plays through to the final day: there are no knockout rounds, ensuring that every young footballer gets to play a high number of international matches.“Fittingly, every team plays an equal number of matches,” Bibiano told TOI in a video call from Baku. “Every youth tournament should be conducted in this manner. It’s the best way to develop youth. This will be a fantastic experience for India. Imagine getting games against Senegal and Cameroon, other regulars at the World Cup. This is the best way to test ourselves and know where we stand.”India play Laos in the opener on Saturday morning with games against Cameroon and Grenada to follow the next day. The three-day qualification stage ends with fiercer challenges against Bahrain and Senegal.“So many teams are here with different styles, different cultures, and different ways of preparation. It will be a great learning experience for each one of us,” said Bibiano.The India coach has previously handled national under-16 and u-17 teams. He has been to multiple Asian Cup events, won high-profile games too. But at the U-15s and 8-a-side formats, he’s still learning the ropes. Just like the rest of the squad. Bibiano says they are getting used to it, “adapting really well”, and with two friendlies in Qatar, both of which they drew, the team appears to be on the right track.“It’s been a decent preparation for us,” admitted Bibiano, who had a look at 150 players, including those based in Spain and UAE, before finalising the 14-member squad. “The World Cup is a great challenge for all of us to experience football from different countries, continents. We have two strong African nations (in the qualification group).”Indi are not there merely to make up the numbers, according to the coach.“Every time we enter the field, there is just one thing on our minds: winning. It’s a natural thing in football. We will do our best to win every game. When the players step out of the field, we need to ask ourselves: did we give our best? If yes, it means we are on the right track. We are developing.”Given the social media furore before his appointment as coach and the tussle with outspoken Minerva Academy owner Ranjit Bajaj, Bibiano will be under pressure to deliver. His choices, strategy, performance will all be under the microscope too. He knows it better than anyone else.“It depends how you handle this,” said Bibiano when asked about the scrutiny. “We are here to see where we stand (in world football at this level). I have taken this up as a challenge. It will help me learn, and the boys, surely, know what I expect from them. The best we can do is give our best. We want to top the group and take it from there.”
