Armenia and Georgia will co-host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the sport’s global governing body announced on Wednesday (29 April), bringing the youth tournament to the South Caucasus for the second consecutive edition after the 2027 event.
The decision was confirmed at FIFA’s 76th Congress in Vancouver. It marks the first time Armenia will host a major international football tournament and the first major FIFA event to be staged in Georgia.
Levan Kobiashvili, President of the Georgian Football Federation, said the award represents a major milestone for the country’s football development.
“I congratulate all football fans and I am sure that this tournament will leave the same mark on the development of our football as the international tournaments that we had a positive experience hosting in the recent past,” he said.
Armen Melikbekyan, President of the Football Federation of Armenia, said both nations were committed to delivering a world-class competition.
“I am sure that both Georgia and Armenia will host the World Cup with dignity. We will do everything to make this tournament stand out in the history of FIFA youth world ranking tournaments.”
The Football Federation of Armenia described FIFA’s decision as an “unprecedented achievement for Armenian football” in a separate statement.
The FIFA U-20 World Cup has been held biennially since 1977, with 24 teams competing in the final tournament.
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will jointly host the next edition in 2027, making the 2029 tournament the second consecutive staging of the competition in the wider region.
Both countries have previously hosted FIFA events: Azerbaijan staged the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, while Uzbekistan hosted the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Armenia and Georgia formally submitted their joint bid in June 2024 in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
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