AT THE HEART OF MINI-FOOTBALL

The capital of Azerbaijan is preparing to host yet another prestigious sporting event – the final stage of the World Mini-Football Championship. From May 21 to June 1, the National Gymnastics Arena will welcome 32 of the world's strongest teams competing for the title.

Group A

The tournament draw recently took place in Baku, attended by World Mini-Football Federation (WMF) President Filip Juda, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, and President of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) Rovshan Najaf. Speakers emphasized that alongside traditional football, interest in mini-football continues to grow nationwide. They noted that hosting the World Championship in Baku would further boost the sport's popularity.

Orkhan Mammadov, President of the Azerbaijan Mini-Football Federation, thanked WMF leadership for awarding the championship to Azerbaijan. He highlighted how the national team's European Championship victory significantly increased interest in the sport. Mammadov noted that President Ilham Aliyev's reception of the European champions provided additional motivation for players and plays an important role in organizing the upcoming world championship.

The 32 participating teams were divided into eight groups. As hosts, Azerbaijan's national team was placed in Group A alongside Mauritania, Slovenia, and Bahrain.

One Year to Prepare

While prestigious tournaments of this scale typically require 2-3 years of preparation, Azerbaijan had just one year to prepare. However, Baku's extensive experience hosting major sporting events, combined with WMF's organizational guidance and established methodological frameworks, has facilitated rapid progress.

The accelerated implementation of organizational matters and infrastructure development demonstrates the Azerbaijan Mini-Football Federation's commitment to completing preparations to the highest standards within the tight timeframe. The federation's achievements in recent years – accomplishing what others might take decades to achieve – further testify to this capability.

Orkhan Mammadov expressed confidence in the national team's performance: "As president of the mini-football federation and tournament host, I wish everyone success. Azerbaijan takes pride in hosting such an important event. After our European Championship victory, President Ilham Aliyev personally met with our champions – a tremendous motivation for our athletes. This exemplifies our country's approach to developing mini-football. At the World Championship, there are no weak opponents, so thorough preparation is essential. All necessary conditions have been created for our team's success, which is why we believe in them."

Anticipating a Football Festival

WMF President Filip Juda emphasized Azerbaijan's growing prominence in the sport and expressed confidence in the championship's organization: "On behalf of WMF, I congratulate Orkhan Mammadov for his exceptional work securing Baku as host. Yesterday's national championship final was magnificent, and I'm confident the World Championship will meet the same high standards. Fans can expect a true football festival."

Former Portuguese international Luís Nani, who attended the draw, shared his impressions of Azerbaijan: "My first visit was with Sporting CP to play against Garabagh, with little time to explore. I'm delighted to return and learn more about Azerbaijan – my impressions are extremely positive."

The tournament will bring approximately 1,000 players, coaches, and staff to Baku. After ten days of competition, a new world champion will be crowned.

Mini-football remains relatively new both globally and in Azerbaijan. The national federation, established in 2017 to develop and promote the sport, joined European and world governing bodies in 2018, enabling Azerbaijani teams to participate in international competitions.

Tournament Group Draw

Group A: Azerbaijan, Mauritania, Slovenia, Bahrain

Group B: Romania, France, Chad, Uzbekistan

Group C: Hungary, Ukraine, England, Türkiye

Group D: Slovakia, Bulgaria, Portugal, India

Group E: Mexico, Montenegro, Thailand, Costa Rica

Group F: Kazakhstan, US, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland

Group G: Czech Republic, Georgia, UAE, Argentina

Group H: Serbia, Ghana, Spain, Israel