Football in Armenia

Football (Armenian: ֆուտբոլ futbol or votnagndak Armenian: ոտնագնդակ) is the most popular sport in Armenia.

As of August 2023^[ref], the Armenia national football team is 90th in FIFA World Rankings. Since gaining independence in 1991, Armenia has had its own national association that takes part in all FIFA competitions (Senior, Youth and Women's Football). FC Ararat Yerevan were one of the leading teams in the top league in the Soviet Union, often playing in European club competitions.

A number of Armenian players played for the USSR national team, including Khoren Oganesian at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and Eduard Markarov in the 1960s.^[1] Markarov later became assistant coach of the Soviet Union's youth team, and was part of the coaching staff at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal in 1991, when the team finished 3rd.

In the early 20th century, the first Armenian football clubs were founded in Constantinople, Smyrna and many other cities within the Ottoman Empire.^[2]

The first game between Armenian and Turkish teams was recorded in 1906. Armenian club called Balta-Liman (after a neighborhood of Constantinople, now called Baltalimanı) met with Galatasaray. Later, Balta-Liman was dissolved and two new clubs were founded: Araks and Tork.

However, the break-out of World War I and the Armenian genocide led to a major decline of Armenian involvement in Ottoman sports.

Oldest records of football teams in Soviet Armenia goes back to 1926-1927, when the Trans-Caucasian Championship was organized in Tbilisi. Three South Caucasian countries participated: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.^[3]

The first professional club in Armenia was established in 1935 as Spartak and was later renamed Ararat. FC Ararat Yerevan is notable for its wins in the Soviet Championship and the Cup in 1973. FC Ararat also reached the quarter-finals of the 1974–75 European Cup, losing to the eventual champions, Franz Beckenbauer's FC Bayern Munich. The first stadium in Armenia was named Spartak as well, built in the late 1920s in front of what is now the Yerevan Circus.

In 1958, FC Shirak was founded in Gyumri (then Leninakan), and played in the Soviet First League until Armenia's independence in 1991.

Football became the most popular sport in independent Armenia. Armenia became an independent state in 1991, the Armenian SSR having previously played for the Soviet Union national football team. The Football Federation of Armenia was founded on 18 January 1992 and established relations with FIFA in 1992 and with UEFA in 1993.^[4] The history of the Armenia national team began on 14 October 1992, when Armenia played its first match against Moldova. That meeting ended in a goalless draw. Since 1996, the team is a member of qualifiers European and World Championships.^[5] Armenia has competed in every UEFA Euro qualification and FIFA World Cup qualification since 1994.^[6]

However, the lack of financial resources forced many clubs in Yerevan and other provinces to retire from professional football. In 2016, only 6 clubs from Yerevan, 1 from Gyumri, and 1 from Kapan were practicing professional football and taking part in the Armenian football league system.

Many football stadiums were built in Soviet Armenia during the final decade of the 20th century. Many of the Soviet-era stadiums are still in bad conditions. However, FFA is now trying to develop the infrastructure across the country with few stadiums being renovated such as in Abovyan, Armavir, Vanadzor and many more fields across the regions. Very few of the professional clubs either possess their own stadium or football training academy.

Many football academies and training camps are operating in Armenia:

• Pyunik Training Centre owned by FC Pyunik, located in Kentron District, Yerevan: is home to 3 natural-grass regular-sized pitches as well as the Pyunik Stadium.
• Banants Training Centre owned by FC Banants, located in Malatia-Sebastia District, Yerevan: is home to 2 natural-grass and 1 artificial turf regular-sized pitches as well as the Banants Stadium.
• Dzoraghbyur Training Centre owned by FC Ararat Yerevan, located in Dzoraghbyur village, Kotayk Province: is home to 3 natural-grass and 1 artificial turf regular-sized pitches.
• Gandzasar Kapan Training Centre owned by Gandzasar Kapan FC, located Kapan, Syunik Province: is home to 1 natural-grass and 1 artificial turf regular-sized pitches.

• Technical Center-Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia, located in Avan District, Yerevan: is home to 8 natural-grass and 2 artificial turf regular-sized pitches as well as the main stadium.
• Gyumri Football Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia, located in Gyumri, Shirak Province: is home to 4 natural-grass and 2 artificial turf regular-sized pitches.
• Vanadzor Football Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia, located in Vanadzor, Lori Province, is home to 3 natural-grass and 1 artificial turf regular-sized pitches.
• Vagharshapat Football Academy of the Football Federation of Armenia, located in Vagharshapat, Armavir Province, completed in 2019, is home to 3 natural-grass and 1 artificial turf regular-sized pitches.
• Armavir Football Academy was completed by the end of 2020.

• Zepyur Football Training Camp, located in Pyunik village, Kotayk Province: is home to 2 natural-grass regular-sized pitches.
• Tsaghkadzor Olympic Sports Complex in the town of Tsaghkadzor, Kotayk Province, with 2 natural football training fields and other facilities.

The Armenia national football team is the national football team of Armenia and is controlled by the Football Federation of Armenia. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the team played its first international match against Moldova on October 12, 1992.

A women's team, an under-21 team, an under-19 team, and an under-17 team also compete.

• List of football clubs in Armenia
• List of football stadiums in Armenia