FIFA’s Executive Committee has taken a historic decision: Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will jointly host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027.
According to the Azerbaijan Football Federation Association (AFFA), the two countries will stage the 25th edition of the youth tournament. For Azerbaijan, this will mark the first time the final stage of a FIFA World Cup event is held in the country – and the national U-20 team will make its debut on football’s biggest youth stage.
The achievement is credited to the sports policies of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who have prioritized investment and development in football.
Launched in 1977, the U-20 World Cup is one of FIFA’s flagship tournaments, showcasing future stars of world football. Argentina leads the honors list with six titles, followed by Brazil with five. Portugal and Serbia have each won twice, while Uruguay, Ghana, Spain, Russia, Germany, England, France and Ukraine have all lifted the trophy once.
The current champion is Uruguay, which won the 2023 edition hosted by Argentina.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the decision in an Instagram post:
“The FIFA Council has selected Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 and Uzbekistan 🇺🇿 to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027. This historic tournament will unite Europe and Asia while showcasing the brightest young talent in our sport. Congratulations to both countries – I look forward to a great 25th edition of this tournament, the first to be co-hosted by two FIFA Member Associations.”
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Infantino also noted that the Council had designated London as host of the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup final in 2026 and reaffirmed football’s role as a force for unity.
AFFA President Rovshan Najaf called FIFA’s decision both “important and historic,” underscoring it as a reflection of the close ties between Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan and their shared commitment to sports development.
