Baku, November 4, AZERTAC
FIFA has expressed its gratitude to the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) for the high standard of refereeing at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival, held in Azerbaijan on October 22-30, 2026.
In his letter addressed to AFFA Secretary General Jahangir Farajullayev, FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina praised the high-standard organization of refereeing at FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival.
He noted that successful delivery of such an important event was made possible only through professional preparation, strong organizational skills, and professional teamwork. In this regard, he emphasized the efforts of AFFA Referees Committee and Refereeing Department.
Pierluigi Collina also thanked all AFFA staff involved in the organisation of refereeing and the officiating of matches, particularly the Azerbaijani referees, for their invaluable contribution to the successful hosting of the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival.
A total of 86 referees officiated matches at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival held in Azerbaijan. Of these, 80 were Azerbaijani referees, while three were invited from Georgia and three from Türkiye.