They travelled from 189 nations, spoke dozens of languages and, for the most part, had never met before arriving in Azerbaijan. Yet for a week, from 24 to 30 October, the players participating in the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival™ shared pitches and a home in the Athletes’ Village. For former Senegal international Khalilou Fadiga, it was the ideal setting to deliver a vital message: racism and discrimination have no place in football.

A quarter-finalist with tournament first-timers Senegal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, Fadiga is one of 16 former footballers from the men’s and women’s games who make up the FIFA Players’ Voice Panel. Launched in September 2025 and led by its honorary captain, George Weah, the panel advises FIFA in its efforts to tackle racism and supports educational initiatives worldwide.

“First and foremost, I’m very honoured to be here,” the Dakar native declared in Baku. “The impact of the Players’ Voice Panel has been growing, especially at global level. Our aim is to contribute in order to get the message across that both racism and discrimination have no place in football today. We make sure we explain this to players, including youth players, and directors. It’s precisely at this age that it’s most important to explain our message."

According to the erstwhile playmaker, there was far more at stake during the competition than the on-field action. At age 14 or 15, teenagers are still developing their outlook on life. The habits they form now will shape the adults they become.

“Young people are way more receptive. The younger they are, the better they understand and get used to the message,” he explained. “When you grow up being apart from others, it becomes an issue. But when you’re a youngster and you already understand that everyone is the same – men and women, boys and girls, Muslims and non-Muslims, black and white people, Catholics or others – you understand that everyone belongs to the same race: the human race.”

Throughout the event, the panel’s messages featured in the educational space in the Athletes’ Village, where players gathered between matches. Teams were given “No Racism” pennants and materials, and special activities took place before several games, including the final-day encounters between Pakistan and Djibouti and France and Uganda.

The FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival gave national teams that rarely compete internationally the chance to perform on the global stage, a feature of the competition that, in Fadiga’s eyes, made the panel’s message all the more meaningful.

“It’s even more important for us because we get to see teams we don’t usually have the chance to watch at major competitions, like Pakistan, Fiji and others,” he said. “It’s an honour for us to explain to them that they too belong to the football world, that they’re fully entitled to participate and that by no means should we let racism and discrimination override that.

“The impact is significant because a lot of teams are coming from all over the world with different mindsets. It’s a good thing to explain to them that the mindset we all need to embrace is one of sharing. Football must unite the world.”

The tournament, which was followed closely by FIFA Chief of Global Football Development Arsène Wenger, was designed to help young players up their game on the pitch, while creating more opportunities for them to connect and learn off it. The Players’ Voice Panel shares this educational focus with the FIFA Football for Schools Programme, with which it works hand in hand.

Fadiga, who plied his trade for teams including Club Brugge and AJ Auxerre, admitted to feeling a touch of envy. “At their age, I would also have loved to have had the opportunity to take part in a U-15 FIFA World Cup,” he said with a smile. “When you look at the standard of football and the infrastructure set up by FIFA, it’s outstanding. Honestly, I’m a bit jealous. I wish I were 14 today and playing here.

“It’s an opportunity to discover different brands of football and on-field mindsets and, more importantly, different football philosophies. It’s important for us and, especially, for FIFA to see so many young people intermix and to witness a blend of football and joy in a single place. It’s the first time I’ve watched young Fijians play, and they’ve looked really good. I’ve also been impressed by the Pakistan team. And then you have the Senegal team, from my country, so I’m very happy to be here.

“For these young people, it’s an opportunity to share,” he concluded. “I think there should be even more of these chances, to allow all the teams in the world to come and measure themselves against each other.”