Preparations for the first FIFA U-15 Boys World Championship and Festival, which will be held in Azerbaijan in 2026, have entered the final stage.
İdman.Biz reports that preparations for the tournament are being carried out in accordance with the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev.
Work at the Hovsan Competition Complex, where the vast majority of matches will be played, is nearing completion. Around 1,000 matches are expected to be held during the tournament, with games taking place on 10 football pitches at the newly built complex.
Nearly 4,000 young footballers, coaches and officials representing FIFA member associations from around 190 countries are expected to travel to Azerbaijan for the event.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently visited the Hovsan Competition Complex during his trip to Azerbaijan and inspected preparations for the tournament.
The FIFA president was briefed in detail on the preparation process, infrastructure projects, security measures and organisational matters. Infantino highly praised the large-scale work carried out within a short period of time, as well as Azerbaijan's level of readiness for the tournament.
The new football infrastructure created in Hovsan will also contribute to the future development of children's and youth football in Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's modern sports infrastructure, stability, security and extensive experience in hosting major international events provide the necessary conditions for staging competitions of this scale at a high level. In this regard, the country's selection as the host of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Championship and Festival is no coincidence.
The tournament is also of particular importance for expanding Azerbaijan's cooperation with the international football community, developing children's and youth football and increasing interest in sport among the younger generation.
The FIFA U-15 World Championship and Festival will take place from October 22 to 30. The opening match and the final will be held at Baku Crystal Hall.
