Armenia and Georgia will submit a joint bid to co-host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2029, reports Zartonk Sports.
This announcement was made during a joint press conference in Yerevan by Armen Melikbekyan and Levan Kobiashvili, Presidents of the Armenian and Georgian Football Federations, respectively. The leaders of the national federations symbolically exchanged team shirts, reinforcing the spirit of camaraderie and cooperation.
Armen Melikbekyan, President of the Football Federation of Armenia, emphasized the strong ties and cooperation that have led to this initiative. “Given the good-neighborly relations between the Football Federations of Armenia and Georgia and the brilliant cooperation in a number of fields, the Federations have decided to submit a bill to host the 2029 FIFA U20 World Cup,” said Melikbekyan.
In preparation, Armenia plans to significantly enhance its sports infrastructure. Two new stadiums are set to be built in Dilijan and Vanadzor, strategically located near the Georgian border. The iconic Republican Stadium in Yerevan will also be utilized, alongside a new stadium soon to begin construction.
This joint hosting endeavor will enhance sports cooperation and create an ideal setting for youth teams globally. It will also boost the sports infrastructure in both countries, promoting football among the youth.
UEFA has backed the bid, marking a positive development for both countries in the realm of international sports.
Work on the bid begins immediately, with the final decision expected in 2025.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup, held biennially, is a platform for under-20 national teams. FIFA bills the men’s U-20 World Cup as “the tournament of tomorrow’s superstars.” Previous winners of the official player of the tournament award include Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Paul Pogba, while Erling Haaland was the top scorer at the 2019 edition. Uruguay is the current title holder, having won its first title at the 2023 tournament in Argentina.
