Luxembourg's U15 national football team wrapped up the group stage of the U15 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, by finishing third in Group Q.
Out of five matches, the young Red Lions claimed four victories, including a 3-1 win against Lithuania, and now move on to compete in the C tournament bracket, where they will battle for places 65 to 96 among a total of 189 participating nations.
Despite a 4-2 defeat to South Korea that prevented them from topping their group, the coaching staff say they are pleased with the team's progress so far.
U15 national coach Pol Hansen and his staff underlined their satisfaction with the squad's achievements, pointing to both the results on the pitch and the way the players have represented Luxembourg internationally.
The team are described as having every reason to be proud of how they have played and conducted themselves.
Hansen added that, based on expectations before the tournament, four wins from five matches and a close loss to South Korea would have been seen as an excellent result.
The U15 World Cup features 189 teams, and just like Luxembourg, many nations are participating in such a tournament for the first time.
Beyond the sporting aspect, the event promotes cultural exchange, allowing players to form connections, discover new experiences, and learn about different countries both during matches and in their free time.
As part of this cultural experience, the Luxembourg squad spent a recent day off exploring the city and meeting the Botswana team. For some Botswana players, it was their first time travelling by metro, something they had only seen in movies before.
Hansen said these interactions highlight the unique opportunities such tournaments provide, stressing how valuable it is for young Luxembourg players to encounter different cultures and to appreciate the chances they have at home.
Over the course of their five group-stage matches, Luxembourg's U15s scored 21 goals and conceded seven. The tournament is played on smaller pitches with teams of eight, which the coaching staff say helps players develop their abilities in tight spaces and succeed in individual duels.
These conditions are seen as contributing factors in the team's recent positive results and ongoing development.
Coach Hansen also pointed to broader improvements in youth football across Luxembourg, crediting recent reforms and club collaboration initiated by the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF) with encouraging more boys and girls to take up the sport.
He believes Luxembourg's youth teams are now able to compete with international opponents, and only a handful of teams at this World Cup might be playing at a higher level, according to him.
Every nation at the tournament is guaranteed nine matches, so Luxembourg will play four more games to determine their final ranking.
The team's next fixture is against Liberia on Wednesday at 9.45am, and, if victorious, they could face Hungary as early as Wednesday evening.
Looking ahead, Hansen noted that the team has analysed several of Liberia's matches and is taking each opponent seriously.
At the same time, he expressed confidence that Luxembourg have what it takes to progress to the next round, provided they maintain the right mindset and respect their opponents.
