Armenia’s squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Ireland

The new head coach of Armenia’s national team, Yeghishe Melikyan, has announced the extended squad for the September World Cup 2026 qualifying matches.

Armenia will play two home matches in Yerevan at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium:

• September 6 vs Portugal (with Cristiano Ronaldo and teammates),

• September 9 vs Ireland.

Both matches will kick off at 20:00 local time.

The expanded list includes 27 players representing both local and foreign clubs. Among the goalkeepers are Henrikh Avagyan (Pyunik), Ognjen Čančarević (Noah), and Arsen Beglaryan (Alashkert). The defense line includes both legionnaires—Nair Tiknizyan (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia) and Georgiy Harutyunyan (Puskás Akadémia, Hungary)—and players from Armenian clubs. Instead of former captain Varazdat Haroyan, Erik Piloyan (Urartu) and Albert Khachumyan (Ararat) were called up.

In midfield, debutants Narek Aghasaryan (Urartu) and Karen Nalbandyan (Alashkert) were included.

Lucas Zelarayán and Norberto Briasco Balekian from Argentina, as well as Grant-Leon Ranos from Borussia Mönchengladbach, return to the squad after a break.

Compared to the previous matches, Tomas Adoryan, Artur Miranyan, Nicholas Kaloukian, Tigran Avanesyan and Araik Eloyan were not called up this time.

Due to injury, Narek Grigoryan (Farul, Romania) will not be able to help the team.

The national team’s training camp will begin on August 31 at the FFA Technical Center/Football Academy.

Armenia national team head coach Yeghishe Melikyan has announced the squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers against Portugal and Ireland.

Goalkeepers
Henri Avagyan – Pyunik
Ognjen Čančarević – Noah
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 – Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)
Sergey Muradyan – Noah
Albert Khachumyan – Ararat

Midfielders
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
Daniel Aghbalyan – Pyunik
Ugochukwu Christus Iwu – Rubin Kazan (Russia)
Karen Nalbandyan – Alashkert

Forwards
Artur Serobyan – Ararat-Armenia
Zhirayr Shagoyan – Ararat-Armenia
Lucas Manuel Zelarayán – Atlético Belgrano (Argentina)
Grant-Leon Ranos – Borussia Mönchengladbach (Germany)
Norberto Briasco Balekian – Gimnasia La Plata (Argentina)
Tigran Barseghyan – Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia)