UEFA Regions’ Cup preliminary qualifying round to start in Yerevan

The preliminary qualifying round of the 2026/27 UEFA Regions’ Cup will begin in Yerevan on June 14. The group matches will take place from June 14 to 20 at the Football Academy stadium in Avan.

Armenia will be represented in the tournament by Kilikia, the champion of the Amateur A League. According to the UEFA Regions’ Cup regulations, only players with no professional background who have played in the country’s amateur championship in recent years are eligible to take part. In addition, the representative team must be strengthened by players from other clubs in the same league — from at least four clubs.

The Armenian team’s opponents in the preliminary round will be the representatives of Lithuania and Estonia. To reach the main qualifying round, Kilikia must finish first in the three-team group.

The UEFA Regions’ Cup is the main European tournament for amateur teams. It is not contested by professional clubs, but by regional or amateur teams representing their countries.

In the previous edition, Armenia was represented by Vayk. The team played two matches, won one of them and finished second in its preliminary-round group, but failed to advance.

How Armenian teams have performed in the UEFA Regions’ Cup

The history of Armenian participation in this tournament began back in 1999. In the first edition of the renewed UEFA Regions’ Cup, Armenia was represented by a team called Armenia. The debut was quite respectable: four points in three matches and third place in the group. However, that was not enough to advance to the next round.

Armenia had to wait 11 years for its next participation. In the 2010/11 season, Malatia represented the country, but the campaign was unsuccessful: three defeats in three matches and last place in the group.

Another long break followed. In the 2024/25 season, Vayk played in the tournament, earning three points from two matches and finishing second in its preliminary-round group.

Now Kilikia will begin its own history in the UEFA Regions’ Cup. The Armenian team will have the chance to become the first representative of the country to reach the next stage of the tournament.

Statistics of Armenian representatives in the UEFA Regions’ Cup

Armenia — 1999 season
Preliminary round, 3rd place in Group 3
3 matches: 1 win, 1 draw, 1 defeat
Goal difference: 5:5

Malatia — 2010/11 season
Preliminary round, 4th place in Group B
3 matches: 3 defeats
Goal difference: 2:10

Vayk — 2024/25 season
Preliminary round, 2nd place in Group A
2 matches: 1 win, 1 defeat
Goal difference: 1:4