The Soviet national lads football team was the under-18 football team of the Soviet Union. For world competitions it was reorganized into under-20 team. It ceased to exist on the breakup of the Union. It was the oldest existing junior national football team until 1972 with introduction of the national under-23 team. Following the realignment of UEFA's youth competitions in 1962, the USSR Under-18 team was formed. The competition has been held since 1948. It was originally called the FIFA junior tournament, until it was taken over by UEFA in 1955 (UEFA Junior Tournament).