Another impressive performance from Italy's Under-15 national team, who cruised to a 6-1 victory over Benin on Pitch 1B at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku. The win came in their fourth Group L fixture of the qualifying stage of the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival, which is taking place in Azerbaijan until October 30th.

AC Milan forward Andrea Kostyuk opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Juventus defender Eric Vian doubled Italy's lead just two minutes later. Genoa left-back Alfredo Criscito, son of former player Domenico, made it 3-0 in the 15th minute, with Roma defender Cristian D'Eletto adding a fourth three minutes later. After the break, Enrico Battisti's side conceded their only goal of the match when Noukpo Nounagnon struck for Benin in the 21st minute. Parma striker Manuel Ferraro restored Italy's four-goal advantage in the 26th minute, before Torino goalkeeper Leonardo Brigante saved a penalty from Benoît Dossou-Yovo two minutes later. Kostyuk then completed his brace in the 32nd minute, sealing an emphatic 6-1 victory for the Azzurrini.

“The match was tougher than the scoreline suggests,” explained Italy head coach Enrico Battisti. “They hit the post early on, but we did well to take the lead and then double our advantage against a side that proved difficult to handle because of their physical strength and athleticism. In the second half, Leo's penalty save was particularly important in preventing them from getting back into the game. As I've said before, we need to learn to be more clinical in front of goal.” Benin had struck the post through Nounagnon in the opening minute, while Battisti was referring to Brigante's penalty save in the second half.

The Azzurrini sit top of Group L with a perfect 12 points, having already secured first place with a game to spare. They return to action this afternoon (16:30 CET) on Pitch 10A to face Hong Kong in their fifth and final qualifying match. Hong Kong drew 1-1 with Qatar earlier in the day, with Ahmed Haddad scoring for the Qataris and Xiao Ming finding the net for Hong Kong. “We'll approach this match as another opportunity,” Battisti added. “It will help us become even more familiar with the dynamics of the game, the positioning and the rules.”

THE MATCH. Italy lined up with Galliera in goal, a back three of Carpi, Chirico and Criscito, Tambaro and Koite, who wore the captain's armband, in midfield, and Ferraro and Kostyuk up front. Benin started with Gaou in goal, behind a defence of Baaba, Adango and Noukle. Zanvo, captain Dossou-Yovo and Mevognon made up the midfield, with Nounagnon leading the attack.

Benin made the brighter start, with Nounagnon striking the post inside the opening minute. Italy responded quickly, but Tambaro's left-footed effort was saved by the opposition goalkeeper in the second minute. Enrico Battisti's side kept up the pressure and deservedly took the lead in the sixth minute when Kostyuk pounced on a rebound after Gaou had failed to hold the initial effort. Just two minutes later, Vian doubled Italy's advantage, finishing off a superb counter-attack following an assist from Tambaro. Benin looked to respond and thought they had pulled a goal back through Mevognon in the 14th minute, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside against the number 9. Having survived that scare, Italy went straight back on the attack. Criscito headed home Musella's corner from the left in the 15th minute before D'Eletto made it 4-0 with an angled finish three minutes later, giving the Azzurrini a commanding lead at the break.

Benin pulled a goal back at the start of the second half, with Nounagnon beating the Italy goalkeeper with a left-footed finish in the 21st minute. The goal did little to change the course of the match, however, as Ferraro restored Italy's four-goal cushion five minutes later with a superb right-footed strike from the edge of the area that flew into the top corner. Benin had a chance to reduce the deficit again in the 28th minute when Vian brought down Nounagnon in the box, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Dossou-Yovo stepped up, but his left-footed effort, aimed across goal at mid-height, was brilliantly saved by Brigante. Having survived the scare, Enrico Battisti's side regained control and wrapped up the scoring in the 32nd minute. Kostyuk completed his brace with a left-footed finish past Gaou following an assist from Reguig, sealing a convincing 6-1 victory for the Azzurrini.

BENIN vs. ITALY 1-6 (0-4 HT)

Benin (3-3-1): Gaou; Baaba, Adango, Noukle; Zanvo, Dossou-Yovo (c), Mevognon; Nounagnon | Agbahoungba, Sedagbande, Faton, Assigbe, Issahou, Takin. Head coach: Ghislain Agoli-Agbo.

Italy (3-3-1): Galliera; Carpi, Chirico, Criscito; Tambaro, Koite (c); Ferraro, Kostyuk | Brigante (GK), Vian, D'Eletto, Musella, Reguig. Head coach: Enrico Battisti.

Goalscorers: 6' Kostyuk (ITA), 8' Vian (ITA), 15' Criscito (ITA), 18' D'Eletto (ITA), 21' Nounagnon (BEN), 26' Ferraro (ITA), 32' Kostyuk (ITA).

Notes: Mevognon (BEN) booked in the 33rd minute. Added time: none in either half.

 

FIFA U-15 WORLD CUP & FESTIVAL AZERBAIJAN 2026

Qualifying stage (October 24th–26th)

Group A: Anguilla, Estonia, France, Kosovo, Maldives, South Africa;
Group B: Algeria, Argentina, Chinese Taipei, Malawi, Oman, Suriname;
Group C: Cambodia, England, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Ireland, Zimbabwe;
Group D: Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Guinea-Bissau, Nepal, Tunisia;
Group E: Barbados, Chile, Congo, Kuwait, Spain, Tajikistan;
Group F: Belize, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Liberia, Morocco, Philippines;
Group G: Bangladesh, Burundi, Fiji, Indonesia, Portugal, Wales;
Group H: Dominica, Ethiopia, Hungary, Malaysia, Mexico, Syria;
Group I: Bulgaria, Gabon, Latvia, Lesotho, Scotland;
Group J: Angola, Central African Republic, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands;
Group K: Bahrain, Cameroon, Grenada, India, Laos, Senegal;
Group L: Benin, Cook Islands, Hong Kong, ITALY, Qatar, Turkmenistan;
Group M: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Eswatini, Samoa, Slovakia, Thailand;
Group N: Aruba, Croatia, Greece, Palestine, Saint Lucia, Yemen;
Group O: Belarus, Botswana, Mali, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Peru;
Group P: American Samoa, Canada, Guatemala, Guinea, Honduras, Singapore;
Group Q: Bhutan, South Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, United Arab Emirates;
Group R: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Guyana, Iran, Mauritius, Vietnam;
Group S: Cayman Islands, Egypt, Iraq, Macau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago;
Group T: Madagascar, Mozambique, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Somalia, Venezuela;
Group U: Cape Verde, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, Tonga, Uganda;
Group V: Bolivia, Gibraltar, Paraguay, Seychelles, Tahiti;
Group W: Bahamas, Ghana, Guam, Kazakhstan, Myanmar, Uzbekistan;
Group X: Comoros, Moldova, Montserrat, Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia;
Group Y: Albania, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Rwanda, Turks and Caicos Islands, Vanuatu;
Group Z: Chad, Kenya, Malta, Niger, North Macedonia, Panama;
Group AA: Antigua and Barbuda, Burkina Faso, Lebanon, New Caledonia, Northern Ireland;
Group AB: Cuba, Czechia, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Togo, US Virgin Islands;
Group AC: Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Georgia, Namibia, Poland, São Tomé and Príncipe;
Group AD: Cyprus, Gambia, Jordan, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan;
Group AE: Afghanistan, Djibouti, Russia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Türkiye;
Group AF: Andorra, Australia, Azerbaijan, Haiti, Israel, East Timor.

Group L Schedule

Matchday 1 (Saturday, October 24th)

Hong Kong vs. Cook Islands 3-0
ITALY vs. Turkmenistan 5-1
Benin vs. Qatar 2-3

Matchday 2 (Sunday, October 25th)

Turkmenistan vs. Hong Kong 2-1
Cook Islands vs. Benin 0-10
ITALY vs. Qatar 3-0

Matchday 3 (Sunday, October 25th)

Hong Kong vs. Benin 1-1
ITALY vs. Cook Islands 9-0
Qatar vs. Turkmenistan 4-0

Matchday 4 (Monday, October 26th)

Benin vs. ITALY 1-6
Turkmenistan vs. Cook Islands 3-1
Qatar vs. Hong Kong 1-1

Standings: ITALY 12, Qatar 7, Turkmenistan 6, Hong Kong 5, Benin 4, Cook Islands 0.

Matchday 5 (Monday, October 26th)

16:30: Cook Islands vs. Qatar, Pitch 1B
16:30: Benin vs. Turkmenistan, Pitch 2B
16:30: Hong Kong vs. ITALY, Pitch 10A

Tournament stage (October 28th–30th)

Finals (Friday, October 30th)

Note: All times are in CET (Central European Time).