FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, has expressed satisfaction with the results of new football rules being tested in Under-15 competitions, aimed at giving young players more playing time and improving their development.

The experimental rules were introduced during the Under-15 World Cup Festival, which concluded last week in Baku, Azerbaijan. The competition brought together 189 countries, including Rwanda.

During the tournament, FIFA tested a new playing format in which teams featured eight players instead of the traditional 11. Match duration was also reduced to 20 minutes per half, allowing more games to be played and giving participating nations opportunities to face different opponents.

Another major change concerned how the ball is returned to play. When the ball crosses the touchline, players are required to restart play by kicking it along the ground rather than using their hands for a traditional throw-in.

The tournament also tested a modified offside rule, under which a player is considered offside only when the offence occurs inside the penalty area. In addition, the competition introduced more flexible substitution arrangements to give young players greater opportunities to participate.

Wenger explained that the main objective of the changes is to prioritise the development of young footballers by ensuring they spend more time playing rather than watching from the sidelines.

"At this level, the most important thing is to give children the opportunity to play. We wanted to reduce the number of players from 11-a-side because otherwise some countries would immediately have a significant advantage on the pitch. We also shortened the matches so that more games could be played and countries could meet more opponents," Wenger said.

He added: "When you love football, you want to know what level you are at, and you have to play against everybody."

Rwanda's Under-15 national team, coached by Hitimana Thierry, finished 80th out of the 189 participating countries.

The initiative forms part of FIFA's efforts to explore new approaches to youth football, with a focus on increasing playing opportunities, encouraging competition and helping young talents develop their abilities from an early age.

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