Benfica academy to launch in Armenia

The Football Federation of Armenia (FFA) and Football Investment Group have announced the launch of the Benfica Academy Armenia project, under which the official academy of Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica will begin operating in Yerevan from the 2027-2028 season.

The Football Federation of Armenia announced the project in a statement.

The academy will be established at the FFA Technical Centre-Academy, part of which has been granted to Football Investment Group LLC under a long-term, rent-free agreement for the implementation of the project. According to the FFA, the decision reflects the initiative’s scale and strategic importance for the development of Armenian football, as well as the status of Benfica’s academy as one of the world’s leading football academies.

Benfica Academy Armenia will become only the third international development centre in SL Benfica’s global academy network. With planned investment, infrastructure and a projected intake of around 1,000 players, it will rank among the club’s largest international academy projects.

The initiative is aligned with the Football Federation of Armenia’s long-term strategy, which prioritises youth football development, the introduction of international best practices, improvements in coach education and the effective use of modern football infrastructure in Armenia.

Under the agreement, the FFA Technical Centre-Academy will undergo extensive modernisation before the academy begins operations. The first phase includes the renovation of six football pitches, the installation of two new artificial-turf pitches, the modernisation of the stadium, the complete replacement of the lighting system, the installation of floodlighting at all training pitches, the reconstruction of the gym and dressing rooms, and the creation of new facilities for players and parents.

The second phase envisages the construction of a new multifunctional complex comprising accommodation, educational and healthcare facilities, sports performance areas, conference halls and other infrastructure designed to provide a high-performance sporting environment.

The academy will begin operations with around 1,000 young footballers aged between four and 17. The programme will be implemented under Benfica’s technical supervision and methodology, providing continuous coach education, a unified player development system and the transfer of international best practices to Armenian specialists.

“We are confident that strategic investments of this kind will significantly enhance the competitiveness of Armenian football, create new opportunities for the development of young players and strengthen Armenia’s position on the regional football map.

“The Benfica Academy Armenia project is another important step towards creating an international-level football environment in Armenia and reflects the Football Federation of Armenia’s consistent policy of bringing the expertise and knowledge of the world’s leading football organisations to support the development of Armenian football.

“I am confident that this partnership will create significant value for Armenian football and help Armenia gradually become one of the region’s leading centres for football education and talent development,” FFA President Armen Melikbekyan said.