Local talent Ater Berchilay has been selected to represent Australia in the first FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan this October. 

Berchilay’s appearance in the National Select Squad caps off an impressive 2026 campaign for the O’Connor Knights player , in which he won Capital Football’s NPL Boy’s U-15s Player of the Year and the Grand Final Player of the Match. 

In 2025, the young attacker was named the Knights’ Players’ Player and finished as the club’s top goalscorer, as well as claiming another Grand Final win, this time with the NPL Boys U-14s. 

Football Australia has only recently established an U-15s outfit, in line with the establishment of FIFA’s new tournament, set to debut in Baku this October for boys, before the girls’ competition takes place in 2027. 

The World Cup will feature 191 nations with eight players per team, competing on smaller pitches across two 20-minute halves of football. 

The selection marks another milestone for Football Australia’s newly established U-15 program, providing some of the country’s emerging young players with their first opportunity to experience international tournament football and a national-team environment. 

The appointments extend the program’s development focus beyond the players, providing coaches who have impressed in their respective environments with valuable exposure to international football.  

Football Australia Pathways Talent Identification Lead Michael Cooper spoke on the importance of this opportunity. 

“To have players representing every Member Federation in this inaugural squad is something we’re really pleased about. 

“It reflects the work being done across the country to identify and develop young players, and the strength of the connections between Football Australia, our Member Federations, clubs and programs. 

“The purpose of this program is to give players an opportunity to experience international football at an earlier stage of their development. They will encounter different opponents, different styles of football and a tournament environment, while getting their first taste of what it means to represent Australia. 

“For both the players and coaches, the focus is on embracing the opportunity, representing Australia with pride and coming away from Azerbaijan better for the experience.” 

Be sure to get behind Ater and the squad as they face up against the best young talent across the world this October.