Baku: Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan have been selected to jointly host the final stage of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027. This decision was made during the recent FIFA Executive Committee meeting held on October 2, as reported by AFFA to APA.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, this landmark event is attributed to the effective sports policies of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The two leaders have been instrumental in promoting football development in their respective countries. The statement from AFFA expressed gratitude to the FIFA Executive Committee members, including President Gianni Infantino, for their trust in awarding the hosting rights.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will oversee the 25th edition of the U-20 World Cup, an event that has been held biennially since 1977. This marks a first for Azerbaijan, both in hosting a men’s World Cup event and in having its national team compete in the final stage. Historically, the U-20 World Cup has been a platform where Europe’s top clubs have discovered numerous talented footballers.
The tournament’s previous edition, currently underway in Chile, features 24 teams divided into six groups. Uruguay emerged as the winner of the last tournament, held in Argentina in 2023. Notably, Argentina has claimed the U-20 World Cup title six times, followed by Brazil with five victories. Portugal and Serbia have each won twice, while Uruguay, Ghana, Spain, Russia, Germany, England, France, and Ukraine have each secured the trophy once.