Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Baku, the host of the inaugural European Games, may have a chance to showcase the very best of club football, the Goal.com football news website reports.

“The city of Baku is already setting sights on hosting some of the true elite in the world of football,” the website said.

Azerbaijan Football Federation general secretary Elkhan Mammadov said: "Now we have a 68,000 capacity stadium. Why not bid for Europa League final matches, for Champions League final matches, and think towards the big event as well?" the website reports.

Baku has constructed a massive stadium to host sporting events as well as Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Baku 2015 Games. The Baku Olympic Stadium, which opened this March, is the largest stadium in the region.

The six-storey stadium occupies an area of nearly 50 hectares. The pitch has four entrance gates, while the stands have 26 gates. The arena has room for 68,000 spectators and includes 3,100 parking spaces.

The facility was constructed using the guidelines established by the International Building Code, as well as those set out by UEFA and FIFA.

Azerbaijan's capital will be one of the 13 host cities of the European Football Championship in 2020, and along with Munich, Rome and Saint Petersburg will host the quarterfinals and three group stage games each. London will host semi-finals and the final games of the EURO.

Baku was already named the host of the 2016 Formula 1 race and the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games .

As Azerbaijan’s capital is now firmly on the sporting map, the chance to host the greatest games European football could soon be on the horizon, the Goal.com said.

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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

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