Football in Azerbaijan
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, and the Azerbaijani national football team. The national team takes part in all competitions organised by FIFA and UEFA at both senior and youth levels. Neftchi Baku used to be one of the leading teams in the former 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 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 and West Germany. 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 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 Trans-Caucasian Championship was organized in Tbilisi. Three South Caucasian countries participated: Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The Azerbaijan national football team held its first friendly matches against Georgia and 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 linesman who helped to award a goal for England in  the 1966 World Cup Final between England and 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, 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. National teams. The Azerbaijan national football team is the national 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 on September 17, 1992. A women's team, an under-21 team, an under-19 team, and an under-17 team also compete. The Azerbaijan national football team has taken part in qualification for each major tournament since Euro 96, but so far has never qualified for the finals tournament of any World Cup or European Championships. Gurban Gurbanov  is Azerbaijan's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches with 66 caps and 14 goals.