Baku:The official opening ceremony of the inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival took place at the Baku Crystal Hall on October 24. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, alongside First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their family, attended the event, which was also graced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the ceremony began with a meeting between President Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and FIFA President Infantino, who presented keepsakes to the Azerbaijani head of state. The ceremony commenced with the national anthem of Azerbaijan, followed by a video showcasing the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Organizing Committee, Samir Sharifov, addressed the attendees, expressing gratitude to FIFA for choosing Azerbaijan as the tournament host. He lauded President Aliyev's leadership and support in organizing the event swiftly and to high standards. FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the unifying power of the tournament, which features over 3,000 participants from 189 countries, and praised the Azerbaijani efforts in hosting the event.

The ceremony concluded with the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival being officially declared open, and a video showcasing impressions from team members of various countries was screened. An artistic program followed, and the attendees, including President Aliyev and his family, watched the match between Azerbaijan and Timor-Leste, which ended in a 6-0 victory for Azerbaijan.

After the match, President Aliyev congratulated the Azerbaijani team, commending their skills and the significance of hosting such a prestigious tournament. He lauded the team's performance and expressed wishes for their continued success.