Balgyn Tournament to Serve as Selection Event for Kazakhstan WU-15 National Team

23 June 2026, 11:22

The national Balgyn Tournament for regional U-15 girls’ teams has kicked off at the BIK Football Centre in Shymkent.

The project aims to develop women’s football, identify promising young talents and create a pathway for their continued development. Players who impress during the tournament will earn call-ups to the Kazakhstan WU-15 national team for the UEFA Development Tournament, which will take place in August.

Around 100 young footballers representing the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western regions of Kazakhstan are taking part in the tournament. The participating teams are supported by around 20 coaches and specialists.

As part of the programme, the players will take part in training sessions over several days before putting their skills to the test in competitive matches.

Balgyn is more than just a tournament. It is a comprehensive programme designed to identify, develop and assess the potential of young footballers. Throughout the competition, specialists will evaluate the players’ technical skills, game understanding, teamwork and long-term development potential.

Balgyn League Coordinator Zhanna Malkagzhdarova shared her thoughts on the launch of the national tournament:

“Balgyn is much more than a tournament. It is a comprehensive development programme for footballers born in 2012, 2013 and later. Our main objective is not only to identify players who score goals, but also to provide opportunities for those with outstanding potential.

At this tournament, we will not only identify promising players but also help build the future talent pool for the national team, which will take part in the Development Tournament this August. The essence of the project is that every player has a fair opportunity to be seen and take a step closer to her dream,” said Malkagzhdarova.

The project aims to create a strong talent pipeline for women’s football while providing young players with an opportunity to showcase their abilities. In addition, the tournament promotes the exchange of experience between regions and helps young footballers adapt to a high-performance sporting environment.