AFFA: 'Over 125 countries will broadcast U-17 Women's World Cup matches live'

Hosting FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Azerbaijan led to the development of infrastructure, AFFA Secretary General Elhan Mammadov told Trend today.

"AFFA president Rovnag Abdullayev determined the development of infrastructure as a top priority five years ago," he said. "The work started in this direction, but holding the World Cup has forced us to bring standards into line with the championship and to work rapidly. Tofig Bahramov stadium was commissioned after the overhaul. The Lankaran stadium will be changed until Sept. 15 in accordance with the FIFA requirements. The covering of "Shafa" stadium is being changed. It will be ready by September 10."

He said that the preparatory work for the championship has been rapidly held for the last three years.

"Dalga Arena" was commissioned during this period," he added. "Bail Stadium will be commissioned on Sept. 1. The 8-km stadium will be commissioned within the next two weeks."
Speaking about the participation of distinguished guests in the championship, AFFA Secretary General said that the presence of FIFA president Joseph Blatter has been confirmed.

"Besides Azerbaijan, heads of federations from 15 member-states will be represented at the opening of the championship," he said. "Besides the participants, around 2,000 foreign guests are expected to arrive in Azerbaijan."

Mammadov said that World Cup was brought in Azerbaijan and handed over to the local organizing committee on July 6.

"At present, the Cup is in Baku," he added. "On September 15, it will be presented in fan zone on the Sea-side Boulevard. Then the cup will be presented to the FIFA office in Azerbaijan."

The tickets were sold online. Now fans can buy lottery tickets over the internet from any world country. Roughly 8,000 of 30,000 tickets left for the first match of the championship, he said.

He added that besides standard FIFA sponsors, such local sponsors as Xalq Bank, Bakcell, Pasha S?gorta and SOCAR were involved.

A friendly match with Zambia will be held within the preparation for the World Cup on the Bail stadium. The talks are being held with Venezuela to hold a friendly match ahead of the championship, Mammadov said.

A positive moment is to conduct a friendly match between Chinese and Canadian soccer players before the World Cup in Azerbaijan.

"In general, the World Cup will have a positive impact on the Azerbaijani economy and will be an advertisement for the country, because more than 125 countries will broadcast the matches live," Mammadov said.

/Trend/