"The selection of Azerbaijan to host the first-ever World Championship, which will be held in a brand-new format, is a further testament to the successful cooperation between AFFA and FIFA."

Offsideplus.az reports that these remarks were made by AFFA President Rovshan Najaf regarding the Bureau of the FIFA Council's decision to award Azerbaijan the hosting rights for the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Championship.

He commented on the decision as follows:

"By the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council, our country will host the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Championship for boys and the 2026 Festival in October of this year.

This decision is, first and foremost, a brilliant result of the continuous attention and care shown by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, toward the development of sports, including football, in our country, as well as our state's successful sports policy. Entrusting this tournament to Azerbaijan—a nation with rich experience in organizing major and prestigious international competitions—is a reflection of our country's strong standing as a sporting nation. In this regard, we express our gratitude to the FIFA leadership for the trust placed in AFFA. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Azerbaijani football community on this momentous occasion."

It is worth noting that the FIFA U-15 World Championship will take place from October 22 to 31, 2026.