Armenia national team suffers squad losses ahead of matches against Portugal and Ireland

Armenia’s head coach Yeghishe Melikyan announced at a press conference that the team will be without two key players in the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.

Central defender Styopa Mkrtchyan sustained a serious injury while playing for his club and will miss not only the match against Portugal but also the one against Ireland. His absence is a major setback for Armenia, as Mkrtchyan is the only left-footed central defender in the squad, which is especially important when playing with three center-backs.

Goalkeeper Ognen Čančarević will also be unavailable for the match against Portugal. He has been diagnosed with a minor injury, and his participation in the game against Ireland remains uncertain. Armenia’s options in goal include Henry Avagyan and Arsen Beglaryan, who each featured in a friendly against Kosovo and Montenegro in June.

Armenia will face Portugal on September 6, followed by a match against Ireland on September 9.