The road to the 2026 World Cup is heating up, and Armenia is ready for a big challenge. The Armenian Football Federation recently announced a 27-player squad. They will face Portugal on September 6 in their first European qualification match for the global tournament. This game marks the start of their journey in Group J.
Leading the charge for Armenia is new coach Yeghishe Melikyan. He steps in for Dutchman John van ‘t Schip. Melikyan’s chosen team features a mix of talent. Eleven players compete for clubs outside of Armenia. One interesting name is midfielder Artur Serobyan. He spent time in Portugal with Casa Pia during the 2023/24 season. Now, he plays for Ararat-Armenia, under coach Manuel Tulipa.
Armenia will play Portugal at 8:00 PM local time in Yerevan on September 6. This is 5:00 PM in Lisbon. The match takes place at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium. Just three days later, Armenia hosts the Republic of Ireland at the same venue. These two home games are crucial early steps in Group J, which also includes Hungary.
Every team in the group has its eyes on the prize. The top team earns an automatic spot in the World Cup. The second-place finisher gets a chance in the play-offs. Portugal, fresh off their Nations League victory, is aiming for their ninth World Cup appearance. It would be their seventh straight trip to the finals of this massive global competition.
The 23rd edition of the World Cup promises to be huge. It runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time ever, 48 national teams will compete. This event will be spread across three host nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. All three host countries automatically qualify for the tournament.
Armenia’s 27-Player Squad:
- Goalkeepers: Henri Avagyan (Pyunik), Ognjen Cancarevic (Noah), and Arsen Beglaryan (Alashkert).
- Defenders: Kamo Hovhannisyan (Ararat-Armenia), Styopa Mkrtchyan (Osijek, Croatia), Erik Piloyan (Urartu), Edgar Grigoryan (Ararat-Armenia), Georgi Harutyunyan (Puskás Akadémia, Hungary), Nair Tiknizyan (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Sergey Muradyan (Noah), and Albert Khachumyan (Ararat-Erevan).
- Midfielders: Zhirayr Shagoyan (Ararat-Armenia), Narek Aghasaryan (Urartu), Gor Manvelyan (Noah), Vahan Bichakhchyan (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Eduard Spertsyan (Krasnodar, Russia), Artak Dashyan (Noah), Edgar Sevikyan (Ferencváros, Hungary), Hovhannes Harutyunyan (Noah), Artur Serobyan (Ararat-Armenia), Daniel Aghbalyan (Pyunik), Ugochukwu Iwu (Rubin Kazan, Russia), and Karen Nalbandyan (Alashkert).
- Forwards: Lucas Zelarayán (Belgrano, Argentina), Grant-Leon Ranos (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Norberto Briasco (Gimnasia La Plata, Argentina), and Tigran Barseghyan (Slovan Bratislava, Slovakia).