“Two flags, one nation” is the best expression to describe the brotherhood between Turkey and Azerbaijan. Every sporting success achieved by this one nation under two flags has always made, and will always make, the one nation under both flags proud.

 

The event that will mark this point was on November 5, 2025. Qarabağ FK manager Kurban Kurbanov, who was in second place in the Azerbaijan Premier League and continued to make “football history” with a 2-2 draw against Chelsea in the Champions League, expressed it in his post-match interview: “Galatasaray has a match, let’s go support Galatasaray.”

 

After Azerbaijani football teams began achieving successful results in Europe, especially in Qarabağ, they are among the top 10 highest-scoring teams in the 2025/2026 season.

 

If Azerbaijan continues to develop its football world on a solid foundation, it will prioritize youth development and, like the Netherlands and Germany, develop its own players and have a voice in this field in Europe. To this end, clubs participating in the Azerbaijan Premier League will make progress in coordination with the AFFA (Azerbaijan Football Federation Association).

 

Development in football should not be solely focused on players. Another factor that will contribute to football’s development is the concept of “facilities.”

 

Clubs should continue their football development in modern facilities and stadiums across all age groups, including youth teams. Football team structures should be similar to those of leading European teams. Managers should be selected from managers who approach football within the same system and reflect this on the pitch. This system should also be reflected in youth teams. Players who develop from the youth ranks will not be in a different system when they join the senior team in the future, and they will have a very rapid transition to the team.

 

When Azerbaijani football completes its rapid and correct development, it will be a major league in Europe and the world. This will, in turn, provide Azerbaijan with significant future benefits through the economic realization that football, now an industrial reality, will create.

 

On the Historical Process of Azerbaijani Football;

 

Azerbaijan National Football Team

The Azerbaijan national football team represents Azerbaijan in international football competitions and is governed by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA).

History

• The team was founded after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
• Azerbaijan played its first official international match in 1992 against Georgia.
• Since its independence, the team has been striving to build a strong football identity and improve its performance in European competitions.

Competitions

• Azerbaijan competes in FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship qualifiers.
• Although the team has not yet qualified for either major tournament, it has shown progress over the years, particularly in the UEFA Nations League.
• Azerbaijan also hosted several matches of UEFA Euro 2020 in its capital, Baku, at the Baku Olympic Stadium.

Home Stadium

• Baku Olympic Stadium (capacity: ~69,000) serves as the main home ground.
• Other matches are sometimes played at Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, named after the famous Azerbaijani referee who officiated the 1966 World Cup Final.

Team Identity

• Nickname: “Milli” (The National Team)
• Team Colors: Red, blue, and green — reflecting the Azerbaijani flag.
• Governing Body: AFFA (Azərbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası)

Notable Players

• Rashad Sadygov – one of the most capped players and team captains in history.
• Mahir Emreli, Emin Mahmudov, and Renat Dadashov are among the more recent key players.

Current Development

• Azerbaijan continues to invest in youth football and infrastructure, including training facilities and domestic leagues like the Azerbaijan Premier League, to strengthen the national team’s future potential.

 

 

Azerbaijan Premier League (Azərbaycan Premyer Liqası)

Foundation, Development, and Current Status

1. Foundation Period (1992–1995)

• Founded: 1992
  After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan established its own independent football system.
  The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) was created the same year and launched the Azerbaijan Top League (Yüksək Liqa) as the country’s first national competition.
• The inaugural season featured 26 clubs.
• First Champion: Neftçi Baku (1992).
• The early years were marked by organizational and financial instability — several teams withdrew due to lack of funding and infrastructure.

2. Reorganization and Professionalization (1996–2006)

• During the late 1990s, the league retained the name “Top League” but began moving toward a more professional structure.
• The number of clubs was gradually reduced to stabilize competition — by the 2000s, it averaged 12–14 teams.
• Strong teams of this era included Neftçi Baku, Kəpəz Ganja, Şəmkir, and Turan Tovuz.
• In 2003, Qarabağ FK, originally from Aghdam, was displaced by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and relocated to Ganja — becoming known as the “refugee club.”
• Despite progress, issues like poor refereeing and inconsistent management still affected the league.

3. Modernization and UEFA Standards (2007–2014)

• In 2007, the competition was officially renamed the Azerbaijan Premier League (Azərbaycan Premyer Liqası).
• AFFA introduced UEFA licensing and regulation systems, requiring clubs to meet financial, infrastructural, and organizational standards.
• Stadium quality improved, and youth development programs began receiving support.
• Around this time, Qarabağ FK began its rise as a dominant force.
• In 2009–10, Qarabağ reached the UEFA Europa League qualification stages, earning Azerbaijan international recognition.

 4. European Success and Stability (2014–2020)

• In 2014–15, Qarabağ FK became the first Azerbaijani team to reach the UEFA Europa League group stage.
• In 2017–18, they made history again by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage, facing Chelsea, Roma, and Atlético Madrid.
• These achievements significantly boosted the league’s prestige and visibility in Europe.
• Other clubs such as Gabala FK, Zira FK, and Sabah FK began investing heavily in facilities and youth academies.
• Broadcast revenues and sponsorship deals increased, and fan engagement grew nationwide.

5. The Present Day (2020–2025)

🔹 Structure and Organization:

• Governing Body: AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan)
• Number of Teams: 10
• Season Duration: August – May
• Format: Each team plays others four times (36 rounds total).
• European Qualification:
  • 1 team enters the UEFA Champions League qualifiers
  • 3 teams qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League

🔹 Recent Champions:

Season	Champion	Notes
2018–19	Qarabağ FK	6th consecutive title
2019–20	Qarabağ FK	Season ended early due to COVID-19
2020–21	Neftçi Baku	Ended Qarabağ’s streak
2021–22	Qarabağ FK
2022–23	Qarabağ FK
2023–24	Qarabağ FK	10th league title

🔹 Current Clubs (2024–25 Season):

1. Qarabağ FK (Aghdam)
2. Neftçi Baku
3. Sabah FK
4. Zira FK
5. Gabala FK
6. Turan Tovuz
7. Sumqayıt FK
8. Kapaz FK (Ganja)
9. Araz-Nakhchivan FK
10. Qaradağ Lökbatan FK (newly promoted)

🔹 Key Features:

• Qarabağ FK remains the dominant club in the league.
• Major venues include Baku Olympic Stadium and Tofiq Bahramov Stadium.
• AFFA continues to collaborate with UEFA on youth development and infrastructure projects.
• Women’s football and youth divisions are receiving growing support and investment.

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