Azerbaijan national team to face Saint Lucia in Sumgait

The Azerbaijan national football team will play its first match in the "FIFA Series – 2026" international tournament today.

According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the team, led by head coach Ayxan Abbasov, will face the Saint Lucia national team. The match, organized at the Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium in Sumgait, is scheduled to kick off at 19:00.

The officiating crew for the encounter will be led by Georgian referee Giorgi Kruashvili. Following this match, the Azerbaijan national team is set to face Sierra Leone at the same venue on March 30.

The FIFA Series is a new initiative by world football's governing body, designed to provide national teams from different confederations with more opportunities to play friendly matches against each other. These matches are intended to support technical development and provide exposure for teams that do not regularly compete against opponents outside of their own continental zones. For Azerbaijan, hosting these matches in Sumgait highlights the country's growing sports infrastructure and its commitment to hosting international sporting events.