President Ilham Aliyev Receives FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Baku

Baku, The Gulf Observer: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received President of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino on September 29, according to media reports.

During the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev expressed appreciation to Infantino for his support for efforts to promote and develop football at the state level, both internationally and in Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani president highlighted preparations for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival, which will be held in Azerbaijan for the first time next month, as well as preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2027.

Aliyev emphasized the significance of Azerbaijan’s participation in these international sporting events and expressed confidence that such initiatives would contribute to the further development of football across the region.

Infantino thanked the Azerbaijani president for receiving him and highlighted the importance of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Azerbaijan, noting that the event would attract the attention of the international sports community.

The two sides also discussed ongoing efforts to develop football in Azerbaijan and noted the country’s recent achievements in the sport.

They praised the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and FIFA and exchanged views on prospects for further partnership. The meeting also highlighted the support provided by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) for FIFA’s activities.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Gianni Infantino presented commemorative gifts to President Ilham Aliyev.