FIFA has introduced a series of experimental football rules at the U-15 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of efforts to improve the flow of matches and create more opportunities for young players to develop.
The trials feature three significant changes to the traditional laws of the game, with a particular focus on reducing interruptions and encouraging attacking football.
The proposed changes include:
- Unlimited substitutions: Coaches can make unlimited changes throughout matches, ensuring more players get valuable playing time.
- Kick-ins replace throw-ins: Players must kick the ball back into play instead of using their hands to take throw-ins.
- New offside boundaries: The offside rule only comes into effect beyond specially marked lines located 14 metres from the goal line, giving attackers more freedom closer to goal.
The competition also uses an eight-a-side format rather than the traditional 11 players per team, alongside shorter matches to accommodate more fixtures and increase participation.
FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, explained that the initiative is designed to prioritise development and participation over conventional competition at youth level.
“At this age, the most important thing is to play. We wanted it to be a reduced number, not 11 against 11,” Wenger said.
He added that the format was designed to reduce the competitive imbalance between participating countries while allowing teams to face more opponents.
“We wanted shorter games so that everybody can play everybody,” he explained.
The experiment represents FIFA’s latest attempt to rethink youth football and explore alternative formats that could help improve player development and make the sport more inclusive.
