Tbilisi Mayor calls U-20 World Cup hosting in Georgia and Armenia “joyful development”, credits peace and gov’t strategy

Kakha Kaladze, the mayor of Tbilisi and secretary general of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday praised FIFA’s decision to name Georgia and Armenia as hosts for the 2029 U-20 World Cup, describing the move as a major milestone for the nation.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kaladze Kaladze linked the successful bid directly to the political climate maintained by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

“This is a fantastic and joyful decision. One thing must be said: this is what peace brings. If we did not have peace, economic development, and progress, we could not bring projects of this scale to Georgia”, the mayor said.

He added that hosting the U-20 World Cup in Georgia and Armenia is a significant achievement and a positive development for the country.

“We are once again making a commitment that the country will be fully prepared in every respect to host this tournament in a dignified manner in Georgia”, Kaladze noted.

He further thanked the leadership of theGeorgian football federation for their involvement in securing the decision, calling it an important step for the development of football, support for sports, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

“It is very important in every respect, for the development of football, for supporting sports, and for promoting a healthy lifestyle. In every way, this decision is very significant and excellent”, he concluded.

FIFA on Tuesday decided that Georgia and Armenia would host the 2029 FIFA U-20 World Cup, following a FIFA Council meeting held on April 28 in Vancouver, Canada, ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress.