Association football, Football is the most popular sport in Azerbaijan. Azeri football is organized by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, or ''AFFA'', which runs the national, professional football league, the AFFA Supreme League, the Azerbaijan national football team, men's national football team, the Azerbaijan women's national football team, women's national team and various youth levels. The national teams take part in all competitions organised by FIFA and UEFA at both senior and youth levels. PFC Neftchi, Neftchi Baku used to be one of the leading teams in the former Soviet Top League, top league in the Soviet Union, sometimes playing in European club competitions. Their most famous player arguably was Anatoly Banishevski, who was also a member of the USSR national football team, Soviet team, that reached the semi-finals in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Another Azerbaijani footballing legend is also part of football history: Tofiq Bahramov was the linesman who played a crucial role in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final between England national football team, England and Germany national football team, West Germany. Their women's league has been more irregular, with only youth levels being run in several seasons.

History

Early period (before 1920s)

In the early twentieth century, football began to become popular in Azerbaijan, which was then part of the Russian Empire. Within a short period of time many football teams were established in the capital Baku. In 1905, the first football teams were created in Azerbaijan. These teams mainly represented the major oil companies of Baku. Among these teams were the "Circle of Football Players of Surakhany", "Stela", "Friends of Sport", "Sportsman", "Congress", "Unitas", "Belaya", "Senturion", "Progress", etc. . Initially, the city championships were held by an agreement between the captains in the absence of cup competitions, in a spontaneous manner. In 1911, the first official championship was held in Baku and resulted in the victory of the "British Club" team. In 1912, Azerbaijani football players had their first "international match" and they won in Tbilisi, Georgia (country), Georgia against the local "Sokol" team with 4:2. During 1912-1913, matches between Azerbaijani and Georgian football teams were organized, first in Tbilisi and then in Baku. In 1914 the Football Union was founded in Azerbaijan. The Football Union undertook the organization of official city championships and other competitions.

Soviet era (1920s–1991)

The oldest records of football teams in Soviet Azerbaijan goes back to 1926-1927, when Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, Trans-Caucasian Championship was organized in Tbilisi. Three South Caucasian countries participated: Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia.World Football Elo Ratings: Azerbaijan
/ref> The Azerbaijan national football team held its first friendly matches against Georgia national football team, Georgia and Armenia national football team, Armenia in 1927 for the Trans-Caucasian Championship in Georgia. During the Soviet era the team did not play any international matches. In 1926 Tehran XI (selected players from Tehran Club, Toofan F.C. and Armenian Sports Club) traveled across the border to Baku, this was the first away football match for an Iranian team. In 1929 it was time for a return visit, and so a team from Baku was invited to play in Tehran in late November. The 1960s is considered the Golden Age for Azerbaijani football as it produced great players like Anatoliy Banishevskiy, Alakbar Mammadov and the football referee Tofik Bakhramov, most famous for being the Assistant referee (association football), linesman who helped to award a goal for England in the 1966 World Cup Final between English national football team, England and German national football team, West Germany. The main stadia in Azerbaijan were built during the Soviet era, most notably the largest and most important of which are the Tofig Bahramov Stadium in Baku, Ganja City Stadium in Ganja, Azerbaijan, Ganja, Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium in Sumqayit, Lankaran City Stadium in Lankaran, among others. After independence, many of these stadia were renovated and modernized or are currently undergoing renovation and modernization. Most football clubs were also founded during the Soviet era, the most prominent of which are, Neftchi Baku PFC, FC Baku, Kapaz PFC, Sumgayit PFC, FK Khazar Lankaran, FK Shamkir, among others.

Post-Independence (1992—present)

National teams

The Azerbaijan national football team is the national Association football, football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. After the split of the Soviet Union, the team played its first international match against Georgia national football team, Georgia on September 17, 1992. They have taken part in qualification for each major tournament since UEFA Euro 1996, Euro 96, but so far has never qualified for the finals tournament of any FIFA World Cup, World Cup or UEFA European Football Championship, European Championships. The Azerbaijan women's national football team played its first international match against Romania women's national football team, Romania on November 18, 2006. Their competitive participation has been limited, with attempts to qualify for UEFA Women's Euro 2009, Euro 2009 and the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, 2011 FIFA World Cup, but then no matches until qualification for UEFA Women's Euro 2022, Euro 2022, though they did enter World Cup qualification for 2023 after that. So far they have never qualified for a major tournament finals. An Azerbaijan national under-21 football team, under-21 team, an Azerbaijan national under-19 football team, under-19 team, an Azerbaijan national under-17 football team, under-17 team, a Azerbaijan women's national under-19 football team, women's under-19 team and a Azerbaijan women's national under-17 football team, women's under-17 team also compete. Gurban Gurbanov is Azerbaijan's Top international association football goal scorers by country, all-time leading goalscorer in international matches with 66 caps and 14 goals.

League system

References

External links

100 years of football in Azerbaijan
{{Sport in Azerbaijan Football in Azerbaijan, lt:Azerbaidžano futbolo sistema