OMM Newsroom
FIFA’s U-20 World Cup will be held in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan from September 17 to October 9, 2027, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Friday.
“Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan are preparing to welcome and bring together the world’s best young footballers,” Infantino said in an Instagram post, AnewZ reports.
The two countries were selected as co-hosts at a FIFA Council meeting on October 2, 2025. This will be Azerbaijan’s first time hosting a FIFA men’s World Cup at any level. Azerbaijan’s U-20 team will also make its debut in the World Cup finals.
The 2027 tournament will be the 25th edition of the competition, which has been held every two years since 1977. Both countries have declared preparations for the championship a priority.
In December 2025, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order establishing a national organizing committee to oversee infrastructure, logistics, security and event management.
In Uzbekistan, a presidential decision set out measures to bring stadiums, transport and accommodation in the host cities into line with FIFA standards.
The host cities and stadiums have not yet been announced. Baku is expected to host matches given its experience staging major football events. Azerbaijan also plans to use the tournament to promote tourism, with visitors expected to combine matches in Baku with trips to historic cities such as Sheki and Shamakhi.
Tournament format and previous winners
Twenty-four teams will take part in the championship. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will qualify automatically as hosts, while the remaining teams will qualify through their confederations’ youth championships.
Morocco are the reigning champions. The team won its first FIFA title by beating Argentina 2-0 in the final at Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile, on October 19, 2025. Morocco became the first African team to reach the final since Ghana in 2009 and the first Arab country to do so.
Argentina are the tournament’s most successful team, having won the title six times. Brazil have five titles, while Portugal and Serbia have two each.
The championship adds to the region’s record of hosting major sporting events. Baku hosted matches at UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2019 UEFA Europa League final, and has hosted the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2016. Uzbekistan hosted the FIFA Futsal World Cup in 2024.
Uzbekistan’s senior national team made its first appearance at this year’s World Cup in North America. The U-20 World Cup has also helped bring future stars such as Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland to wider attention.
