About Azerbaijan

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) was established on 26 March 1992 following Azerbaijan's independence from the Soviet Union. The federation joined both FIFA and UEFA in 1994, marking the country's formal entry into international football.

The federation's early years were not without turbulence. In April 2002, UEFA imposed a two-year ban on AFFA due to serious conflicts with domestic clubs — the national championship was abandoned and top clubs blocked players from representing the national team, delivering a significant setback to Azerbaijani football's development.

Recovery and modernisation followed in subsequent years. In 2009, AFFA unveiled the Azerbaijan Football Academy on Nobel Avenue in Baku, with UEFA vice president Şenes Erzik attending the opening ceremony. The federation adopted a new organisational identity in 2010 and has since invested in infrastructure and youth development across the country.

AFFA oversees the Azerbaijan Premier League, the Azerbaijan Cup, and futsal competitions, as well as national teams across all age groups and gender categories. Rovshan Najaf has served as president since 2024, succeeding Rovnag Abdullayev who led the federation from 2008 to 2024.