Armenia national team held its first training session under Yeghishe Melikyan

On September 1, the Armenia national team gathered at the FFA Technical Center in Yerevan and held its first training session under the guidance of new head coach Yeghishe Melikyan. The team began preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Portugal (September 6, Yerevan) and Ireland (September 9, Dublin).

On the first day of the training camp, 23 players took part. The squad met the new coach and went through an intensive session.

National team debutants Narek Agasaryan and Erik Simonyan (both representing Urartu) shared their impressions in an interview with the official FFA channel.

Narek Agasaryan:
“I first received a call-up back in 2023, but due to injury I couldn’t join then. This is my second call-up, and I’m very happy to be here now. I think we have a good team with quality players, and we can achieve great results. Yeghishe Melikyan is an excellent coach, we all know him from the Armenian league. I will try to justify the trust and prove myself. Playing against Portugal and Ireland is a huge experience. Of course, Portugal has world-class stars, but Ireland is also very strong. We must strive to beat such teams if we want to grow.”

Erik Simonyan:
“At the start of the season I didn’t get much playing time at the club, but I’m in good shape now. I’m very happy with the call-up to the national team. Today we had our first intensive training, and the atmosphere in the team is great. Portugal is one of the strongest teams in the world, but that doesn’t mean we should back down. We will fight for victory.”

23 players participated in the September 1 training session:

• Henri Avagyan (Pyunik)
• Ognjen Čančarević (Noah)
• Arsen Beglaryan (Alashkert)
• Kamo Hovhannisyan (Ararat-Armenia)
• Stepa Mkrtchyan (Osijek, Croatia)
• Erik Piloyan (Urartu)
• Edgar Grigoryan (Ararat-Armenia)
• Gevorg Harutyunyan (Puskás Akadémia, Hungary)
• Sergey Muradyan (Noah)
• Albert Khachumyan (Ararat)
• Jirair Shaghoyan (Ararat-Armenia)
• Narek Aghasaryan (Urartu)
• Gor Manvelyan (Noah)
• Eduard Spertsyan (Krasnodar, Russia)
• Artak Dashyan (Noah)
• Edgar Sevikyan (Ferencváros, Hungary)
• Hovhannes Harutyunyan (Noah)
• Artur Serobyan (Ararat-Armenia)
• Daniel Aghbalan (Pyunik)
• Ugochukwu Kristus Iwu (Rubin, Russia)
• Karen Nalbandyan (Alashkert)
• Grant-Leon Ranos (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany)

On September 2, Vahan Bichakhchyan, Tigran Barseghyan, and Nair Tiknizyan will join the team. On September 3, Lucas Zelarayan is expected to arrive.