Armenia’s National Team Roster by Position for the Matches Against Hungary and Portugal

The Armenian national team approaches the final matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with significant squad challenges. Head coach Yeghishe Melikyan is forced to reshuffle his lineup ahead of the clashes with Hungary and Portugal. Despite the personnel problems, Armenia still maintains a competitive core and a chance to finish the campaign on a respectable note.

Squad Losses and Team News

The team will be without several key players:

• Vahan Bichakhchyan, Ugochukwu Iwu, and Artur Miranyan will miss the November games due to injuries.

• Lucas Zelarayán has announced his retirement from international football ahead of these matches.

• Captain Tigran Barseghyan is suspended for three matches following his red card against Ireland.

To strengthen the squad, Melikyan has called up two players from the U21 national team: Artem Bandikyan (debutant) and Araik Eloyan (1 cap).

Gevorg Harutyunyan, Kamo Hovhannisyan, and Erik Piloyan are one yellow card away from suspension — a booking against Hungary would rule them out of the Portugal game.

Squad by Position (5-2-3 formation)

Goalkeepers

• Henri Avagyan

• Arsen Beglaryan

• Ognen Čančarević

Avagyan has been the consistent starter in recent matches and is expected to retain the number one spot in November.

Right Back

• Kamo Hovhannisyan

• Artem Bandikyan

Hovhannisyan is the only natural right-back in the squad, making his role crucial. Bandikyan, who plays for CSKA Moscow, could serve as his backup. Although primarily a midfielder at club level, he has experience as a full-back for Armenia’s U21 team. With Hovhannisyan at risk of suspension, Bandikyan might be used as an emergency option.

Centre Backs

• RCB: Georgiy Harutyunyan

• CB: Sergey Muradyan

• LCB: Styopa Mkrtchyan, Erik Piloyan

Defensive depth is thin, with only four central defenders available.
Harutyunyan and Muradyan are regular starters, while Mkrtchyan and Piloyan could rotate.
Mkrtchyan, a left-footer, is the natural choice on the left side of defense, but Piloyan’s strong recent form makes him a solid alternative — especially if Harutyunyan faces suspension.

Left Back

• Nair Tiknizyan

• Edgar Grigoryan

This duo has been a consistent part of the national setup. Tiknizyan is an undisputed starter, while Grigoryan provides reliable cover.

Defensive Midfielders

• Karen Muradyan

• Narek Aghasaryan

With Iwu injured, Armenia loses an important ball-winner in midfield. The veteran Karen Muradyan (33, Ararat-Armenia captain) is expected to take over the anchor role, having performed well against Hungary earlier in the campaign.
Narek Agasaryan has limited national team experience (only 4 minutes played) but could get an opportunity in one of the two matches.

Central Midfielder / Playmaker

• Eduard Spertsyan

• Karen Nalbandyan

Eduard Spertsyan is the team’s leader and new captain. He orchestrates most of Armenia’s attacks and is almost certain to play both matches in full.
Karen Nalbandyan, captain of Alashkert, is awaiting his senior debut and might be given a chance late in the campaign.

Right Wingers

• Artur Serobyan

• Narek Grigoryan

• Edgar Sevikyan

The absences of Bichakhchyan and Barseghyan have weakened the right flank, though options remain.
Serobyan, one of Ararat-Armenia’s key players, is the most likely starter.
Narek Grigoryan, recently recovered from injury, has found great form in Romania (2 goals and 2 assists in 3 matches).
Sevikyan has seen limited playing time in Russia but remains a valuable impact substitute due to his pace and creativity.

Left Wingers

• Zhirayr Shaghoyan

• Gevorg Tarakhchyan

• Gor Manvelyan

Shaghoyan is the favorite to start, having impressed in the match against Ireland.
Tarakhchyan, a former U21 captain, joins the squad following Bichakhchyan’s injury and gets another chance to establish himself.
Manvelyan is a versatile option who can play both on the wing and as an attacking midfielder, giving tactical flexibility.

Strikers

• Grant-Leon Ranos

• Araik Eloyan

Grant-Leon Ranos remains Armenia’s main attacking weapon — the scorer of the winning goal against Ireland. With Miranyan injured, Ranos is the undisputed first-choice striker.
Araik Eloyan, still only 19, could make substitute appearances to gain valuable experience.

Summary and Outlook

Despite the lineup issues, Armenia retains the potential to finish the qualification campaign with pride.
Head coach Yeghishe Melikyan still has a balanced squad led by Eduard Spertsyan, Kamo Hovhannisyan, and Nair Tiknizyan, who can inspire confidence and leadership on the pitch.

The main intrigue lies in how the younger players — Bandikyan, Tarakhchyan, Agasaryan, Nalbandyan, and Eloyan — will perform. They represent the future of Armenian football.

The matches against Hungary and Portugal will be more than just the conclusion of the qualifying round — they’ll be a crucial test for this generation and a step toward building a team capable of competing for major tournament spots in the coming years.