Armenia Earns 1.875 Points in European Competition: Second Qualifying Round Recap
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
Following the completion of the second qualifying round of the 2026/27 European club competitions, two Armenian representatives remain in contention. Ararat-Armenia have advanced to the third qualifying round of the Champions League, while Noah have reached the third qualifying round of the Conference League. Pyunik and Alashkert have been eliminated.
The four Armenian clubs played 14 matches, recording five wins, five draws and four defeats. They won five two-legged ties and contributed 1.875 points to Armenia’s UEFA coefficient.
Ararat-Armenia: Two Champions League Rounds Successfully Navigated
Ararat-Armenia began their Champions League qualifying campaign with a victory over Latvian side Riga. The Armenian club won the home leg 2–0 before losing the return match 3–2. The team from Yerevan advanced with a 4–3 aggregate victory.
In the second round, Ararat-Armenia eliminated Irish club Shamrock Rovers. After a 2–0 victory in Yerevan, the team lost 2–1 in Dublin but preserved its aggregate advantage, winning the tie 3–2. Sandro Lima scored the decisive goal in the return leg.
The club’s results:
- Ararat-Armenia vs Riga — 4–3 on aggregate: 2–0, 2–3;
- Ararat-Armenia vs Shamrock Rovers — 3–2 on aggregate: 2–0, 1–2;
- two wins and two defeats;
- contribution to Armenia’s coefficient — 0.500 points.
In the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Ararat-Armenia will face Slovenian side Celje. The first leg will take place in Yerevan on August 4, with the return match scheduled for August 11 in Slovenia.
Ararat-Armenia have already guaranteed themselves a place in the league phase of one of UEFA’s club competitions.
Noah Eliminate Zimbru and Will Face Sion
Noah began their European campaign in the second qualifying round of the Conference League. The first match against Moldovan club Zimbru ended in a 1–1 draw. In the return leg, the Armenian team won 2–1 thanks to goals from Gor Manvelyan and Gustavo Sangaré. The aggregate score was 3–2.
Noah’s results:
- Zimbru vs Noah — 1–1;
- Noah vs Zimbru — 2–1;
- one win and one draw;
- contribution to Armenia’s coefficient — 0.375 points.
Noah’s next opponent will be Swiss club Sion, who defeated BATE 5–1 on aggregate in the second round. After a 1–1 draw in the opening match, the Swiss side recorded a commanding 4–0 home victory.
Pyunik Contribute the Most Points to Armenia’s Coefficient
Pyunik have been the most productive Armenian club in terms of their contribution to the country’s coefficient this season.
In the first qualifying round, the Yerevan side comfortably eliminated Maltese club Marsaxlokk, winning 4–0 on aggregate. Pyunik earned a 3–0 away victory before winning the home leg 1–0.
In the second round, the Armenian team lost to Hungarian side Debrecen. The only goal of the tie was scored in the opening match in Hungary, which ended 1–0. The return leg in Yerevan finished in a goalless draw.
Pyunik’s results:
- Marsaxlokk vs Pyunik — 0–4 on aggregate: 0–3, 0–1;
- Debrecen vs Pyunik — 1–0 on aggregate: 1–0, 0–0;
- two wins, one draw and one defeat;
- contribution to Armenia’s coefficient — 0.625 points.
Alashkert Eliminate Elimai but Lose to CFR
In the first round, Alashkert recorded two draws against Kazakhstan’s Elimai. The match in Yerevan ended 1–1, while the return leg finished 2–2 after extra time. The Armenian club won the penalty shootout 6–5.
In the second round, Alashkert faced Romanian club CFR. The teams drew 1–1 in Armenia, but the Cluj side won the return match 3–0. The final aggregate score was 4–1.
Alashkert’s results:
- Alashkert vs Elimai — 3–3 on aggregate, 6–5 on penalties;
- Alashkert vs CFR — 1–4 on aggregate: 1–1, 0–3;
- three draws and one defeat;
- contribution to Armenia’s coefficient — 0.375 points.
A penalty-shootout victory is not counted as a win when UEFA coefficients are calculated. The result after regulation time or extra time is used, meaning Alashkert’s return match against Elimai is recorded as a draw.
Armenian Clubs’ Coefficient Contributions
| Club | Wins | Draws | Defeats | Rounds Progressed | Points for Armenia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyunik | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.625 |
| Ararat-Armenia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.500 |
| Noah | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.375 |
| Alashkert | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0.375 |
| Total | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 1.875 |
In UEFA qualifying rounds, teams receive one point for a win and 0.5 points for a draw. The resulting total is divided by the number of clubs entered by the country. Armenia has four representatives, so every victory adds 0.250 points to the country’s coefficient and every draw adds 0.125 points.
Armenia Match Their 2021/22 Season Total
The 1.875 points already earned have allowed Armenia to equal their final coefficient for the entire 2021/22 European season.
In the 2025/26 season, Armenian clubs earned 4.187 points, one of the country’s best results. Armenia are currently 2.312 points short of that mark, but Ararat-Armenia and Noah remain in their respective competitions and can increase the overall coefficient.
Armenia currently occupy 33rd place in the UEFA coefficient rankings, a position that will give the country a Europa League entrant starting next season.
How Much Have Pyunik and Alashkert Earned?
Under UEFA’s preliminary distribution system for the 2026/27 season, Pyunik and Alashkert will each receive at least €700,000 for participating in Conference League qualifying.
The amount consists of two components:
- €175,000 for each qualifying round played, for a total of €350,000;
- €350,000 for elimination in the second qualifying round.
The basic payment to each club will therefore amount to €700,000. UEFA states that the final amounts will be confirmed once the competitions’ actual revenues have been determined.
After the second round, Armenia have retained half of their representatives in European competition. The country’s final result will now depend on Ararat-Armenia’s performances against Celje and Noah’s matches against Sion.