Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan begin preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup

At a meeting of the FIFA Council held on October 2, 2025, a decision was adopted to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027 in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. In this context, the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan simultaneously signed relevant decisions on preparations for and the hosting of the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

On December 15, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a resolution titled “On Measures to Prepare for and Host the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.” The document outlines the priority areas for organizing and staging the tournament in 2027.

These priorities include ensuring thorough preparation and holding the World Cup at a high organizational level, creating the necessary infrastructure in line with FIFA requirements, providing high-quality services and favorable conditions for participants and fans, enhancing the country’s international standing and prestige through hosting the tournament, and expanding international cooperation.

The Organizing Committee has been tasked with coordinating the activities of responsible government bodies and organizations to ensure the successful staging of the World Cup. Its responsibilities include upgrading infrastructure at competition venues in accordance with FIFA standards, equipping facilities with modern technical and telecommunications systems, coordinating visa issuance, transportation, medical services, and volunteer support for participants, ensuring uninterrupted and backup electricity supply at tournament locations, overseeing timely and high-quality improvement works, and preparing stadiums, training grounds, and hotels in host areas.

In addition, the Organizing Committee has been granted the authority to make prompt decisions related to organizing the World Cup at a high level within the scope of its assigned tasks.

Based on requests from the Ministry of Sports and the Uzbekistan Football Association, the Ministry of Transport has been instructed to introduce special bus routes along the Tashkent–New Tashkent–Tashkent corridor for accredited individuals and ticket holders on match days. Measures will also be taken to allow accredited persons and ticket holders to use public transport, including buses and the metro, free of charge.

The Uzbekistan Football Association, in cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, has been tasked with organizing ceremonies and official events to present the official match ball, logo, and mascot of the World Cup to the public. It will also develop and implement a nationwide route to showcase the tournament’s main trophy, the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The Ministry of Energy has been instructed to ensure uninterrupted and backup power supply to World Cup facilities and the International Broadcast Center in line with FIFA requirements.

Furthermore, the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan and the National News Agency have been assigned to obtain broadcasting licenses for World Cup matches in accordance with FIFA requirements. They are also tasked with developing a media plan to ensure broad coverage of the tournament in domestic and international media, publishing analytical articles on the substance and practical significance of the decision, and organizing briefings and thematic television programs.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance noted that the funds required for proper preparation and hosting of the World Cup at a high level will be provided for in the state budget parameters for 2026–2027.

Responsibility for the effective implementation of the decision has been assigned to Minister of Sports Atkham Ikramov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Football Association Bahodir Kurbanov, and Tashkent Mayor Shavkat Umurzakov. Overall coordination, monitoring, and oversight of implementation have been entrusted to Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and the President’s Representative for Sports Odil Abdurakhmanov.

In Azerbaijan, a corresponding decree was also signed by the country’s President on the establishment of an Organizing Committee for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Azerbaijan.

Based on Article 109, Clause 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev ordered measures to ensure the proper hosting of the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in the country.

According to the decree, an Organizing Committee will be established in connection with hosting the tournament in Azerbaijan in 2027. The committee will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov, with the Minister of Youth and Sports serving as deputy chair. Its members include deputy ministers of emergency situations, finance, culture, economy, internal affairs, digital development and transport, science and education, foreign affairs, and health; special presidential representatives in Khankendi city and the districts of Aghdara and Khojaly; the head of the Baku City Executive Authority; heads of the State Tourism Agency, the Food Safety Agency, and the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations; deputy heads of the State Customs Committee, State Security Service, State Migration Service, and State Border Service; the chair of the Board of the State Agency for Automobile Roads; the president of Azerbaijan Airlines; the heads of Azerishiq and Azerenerji; the executive director of the Association for the Management of Medical Territorial Units; the vice president of the National Olympic Committee; the president of the Association of Football Federations; and the heads of executive authorities of Ganja city, Gabala district, and Sumgayit city.

Coordination with FIFA regarding preparations for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan has been assigned to the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. The Organizing Committee has been instructed to resolve all necessary issues related to hosting the tournament.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been directed to address matters arising from the decree.

According to Akhror Burkhanov, press secretary of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, who spoke to QALAMPIR.UZ, the simultaneous signing of the decisions by the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan clearly demonstrates the high level of strategic partnership between the two countries.

“The hosting of the U-20 World Cup will make a significant contribution to enhancing the international standing of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, developing youth sports, and promoting the values of friendship, mutual understanding, and fair competition. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan will continue to consistently support international cooperation to ensure the high-level preparation and successful staging of this prestigious tournament,” he said.

According to Burkhanov, this step also confirms mutual trust and readiness between Tashkent and Baku to further strengthen cooperation in sports and humanitarian fields and to jointly implement major international projects.