The All India Football Federation has appointed Ranjit Bajaj as Team Manager of the India U-15 side for the first-ever FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan this October. The tournament runs from 22 to 31 October 2026. It’s a brand-new competition from FIFA, and India’s boys will get a rare chance to test themselves against some of the best young teams in the world. Bajaj, the man behind Minerva Academy, has been loud and clear about wanting this role. He’s spent years building a proper youth setup at Minerva.

On the recommendation of the AIFF Technical Committee, the Executive Committee approved the appointment of Bibiano Fernandes as the head coach of the India U15 men's national team, subject to his acceptance, for the inaugural edition of the FIFA U15 World Cup & Festival, scheduled for October in Azerbaijan. Ranjit Bajaj was approved as the team manager. As per the regulations of the tournament, 20 members, six staff and 14 players can be part of the team's contingent," read the statement from AIFF.

The decision was made during the AIFF executive committee meeting on Thursday, August 6 in New Delhi, alongside many other calls regarding India's friendly with Brazil and the Indian Super League.

Mixed Reactions Follow Ranjit Bajaj's AIFF Appointment

Reactions of Ranjit Bajaj getting this role have been mixed with plenty of people feeling his hands-on experience with young players and Minerva’s track record make him a good fit for the manager’s job. Others are unhappy with how the whole process played out, saying social media noise should not decide national team appointments. Ranjit shared plans for how he wanted to prepare the team. That public push, along with a strong social media campaign, put a lot of pressure on the federation. In the last few weeks he openly wrote to the AIFF offering to take charge without asking for a salary.

Alongside him, the AIFF has approved Bibiano Fernandes as head coach, subject to his acceptance. Fernandes has been around Indian youth teams for a long time and knows the pathway well. Many also point to India’s recent struggles at youth level, including the U-15 team’s disappointing campaign in Tajikistan, where it finished bottom of its group, as evidence that Indian football needs fresh ideas and stronger grassroots leadership.