Alexander Pracht
Armenia and Georgia will jointly host a World Cup in football for players aged 20 and younger in 2029, football’s global governing body FIFA announced Wednesday. The joint bid was first announced in 2024 and has now been approved.
The tournament, known as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, will become by far the biggest and most prestigious football competition ever held in either country.
In preparation for the tournament, Armenia has pledged to construct three new stadiums. One is the projected 35,000-seater outside Yerevan, and possible locations for the other two have previously been mentioned in Vagharshapat, Ijevan, and Vanadzor. The Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, the current home venue for the country’s national team, is also expected to host some of the tournament’s fixtures.
The competition is expected to attract significant revenue from visiting fans.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup is held every two years. It features 24 national teams and is widely seen as a major showcase for rising football talent. Eligible players must be no older than 20 years of age on January 1, 2029. While Armenia’s U-20 team has never qualified for the tournament, it will receive a guaranteed spot alongside Georgia.
The next year’s edition of the tournament will be jointly hosted by Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Also watch: Low spectator interest leaves Armenian football clubs facing constant collapse
Stories
