Azerbaijan emerges as potential host for 2027 Games of the Future

Brazil, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan could emerge as contenders to host the Games of the Future next year, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev told TASS.

Kazakhstan, which hosted this year’s tournament, is ready to support any potential host and share its experience in organising the event, he said.

“Likely contenders that are ready to host these Games are Brazil; one potential contender is Uzbekistan. I have also heard about Azerbaijan,” Zharasbayev said when asked where the next tournament could be held.

The vice minister said more specific information on the potential candidates would be announced after the final results of the Games of the Future, which concluded in Astana. He added that Kazakhstan would support any country willing to host the event.

“Kazakhstan will support any country that takes the initiative to host the Games of the Future. We will be happy to share our experience of holding the Games here and are even ready to join the organising committee, as our people have gained considerable experience. We spent two years preparing for these Games. I think we have a lot to tell and a lot to share,” Zharasbayev said.

The Games of the Future were held in Astana from July 29 to August 9. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, broadcasts of the competitions were viewed more than 453 million times, while another 29,000 spectators attended matches at stadiums in the Kazakh capital.

The tournament combines esports with traditional sports and was created in Russia. The inaugural Games of the Future were held in Kazan in 2024. At the opening ceremony, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed hosting the competition in Kazakhstan.

The tournament was held in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. The 2026 Games of the Future featured competitions in eight disciplines: phygital football, phygital basketball, phygital shooters, phygital martial arts, phygital dancing, Dota 2, MLBB and PUBG: Battlegrounds.

By Tamilla Hasanova