Panaji: Bibiano Fernandes has accepted an offer from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to coach the national team for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 later this year in Azerbaijan.The former India U-17 coach was the technical committee’s top choice for the U-15 job. Last week, the AIFF executive approved his appointment as head coach, while Minerva Academy owner Ranjit Bajaj got the nod as manager.Bibiano, it is understood, was not comfortable with Bajaj as the team manager, fearing interference. But sources said the “roles and responsibilities” for both positions are now clearly defined in the contracts.A former India midfielder, Bibiano is India’s most successful coach in national youth teams competitions. He guided India to three successive AFC U-16/17 Asian Cups between 2018 and 2023, and recorded a famous 2-1 win against powerhouse Iran to qualify for this year’s championships.“The coaching and selection will be done entirely by the coach,” a senior official told TOI on Monday. “There is no scope for interference from anyone. The manager’s role has also been defined. It’s a typical manager’s position, like at the club, an administrative role.”It is unlikely that Bajaj will agree to an administrative role in the team, where the manager looks after logistics. His presentation before the technical committee came with a plan to take India to the 2034 FIFA World Cup.Bajaj’s Minerva Academy is one of India’s most successful youth football setups, winning trophies at national and international level.The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival will feature all 211 member associations and will be played in an eight-a-side format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Each team can register 14 players, including up to two goalkeepers.
