England Players Walk Off Over Alleged Racist Incident at Under-15 World Cup

England's Under-15 players walked off the pitch in Baku on Monday, October 26, 2026, and their FIFA Under-15 World Cup match against the Republic of Ireland was abandoned after an alleged racist insult by a member of the Irish team. Ireland were leading 4-1 when the match was stopped in its final minute.

The final minute

The incident came in the final minute, reported as the 40th minute of a match played over two 20-minute halves, after the referee signalled a free kick for England. A number of scuffles followed between the players. The England captain accompanied one of his teammates to the sideline and went to speak to the referee. Coach Matt Thorpe and his staff then told the players to leave the pitch.

Footage appears to show Thorpe beckoning his players off the field after a confrontation between one of their players and an Irish opponent. Thorpe could be heard saying, "It's not happening." Reports carried by talkSPORT, citing the Daily Mail, said an England player claimed an opponent had made a racist comment towards them, after an altercation in which the England youngster pushed a rival in the back. The allegation has not been proven, and FIFA has made no finding.

FIFA response

A FIFA spokesperson said the match was abandoned by the referee following England's refusal to continue. "The match was abandoned by the referee following England's refusal to continue," the spokesperson said. "The official reports are being gathered, and the matter will be referred to the independent disciplinary committee who will decide in due course."

FIFA also said it is aware of an incident at the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival match between England and the Republic of Ireland, and it told BBC Sport that it is investigating and gathering reports.

The other side and the associations

The decision to leave the pitch prompted an argument between the two benches. Irish staff protested that the alleged racial abuse had not taken place. The Football Association is aware of the incident and is understood to be awaiting more information. At the time of the reports, the FA and the Football Association of Ireland had not issued statements, and the FAI had been contacted for comment.

A first tournament of its kind

The competition is the inaugural FIFA Under-15 World Cup, officially called the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival. It is taking place in Azerbaijan and features 189 countries. Teams comprise eight players, and matches are played over two 20-minute halves. FIFA launched the tournament in December 2025 to promote youth football.

England's run and what remains unclear

England took a 14-man squad, with all players affiliated with professional clubs. England had beaten Nicaragua 4-0, Montenegro 2-1 and Cambodia 10-0 before the Ireland game. Ireland sat a point clear of England at the top of Group C after their meeting. England were due to conclude their group schedule against Zimbabwe on Monday. There has been no indication whether the 4-1 score at abandonment will stand.

Timeline

December 2025: FIFA launched the FIFA Under-15 World Cup and Festival as part of its commitment to promote youth football.

Oct 26, 2026: England's players left the pitch in Baku following an alleged racist insult, and the referee abandoned the match with Ireland leading 4-1.

Oct 26, 2026: FIFA said official reports are being gathered and the matter will be referred to its independent disciplinary committee.