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. As part of the initiative, the official academy of Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica will begin operating in Yerevan starting from the 2027/28 season.


The project will be implemented at the FFA Technical Centre/Football Academy. As part of the agreement, the FFA has granted Football Investment Group LLC the long-term right to use part of the facility free of charge for the implementation of the Benfica Academy Armenia project.

This decision reflects the exceptional scale of the initiative, its strategic importance for the development of Armenian football, and the fact that the SL Benfica Academy is widely recognized as one of the world's leading football development centres.


Benfica Academy Armenia will become only the third international development centre within SL Benfica's global academy network. In terms of investment, infrastructure and its planned intake of approximately 1,000 players, it will be comparable to the club's largest international academy projects to date.


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


Before the academy officially begins operations, the parties plan to undertake a comprehensive modernisation of the FFA Technical Centre/Football Academy. During the first phase of the project, six football pitches will be fully renovated, two new artificial turf pitches will be installed, the stadium will be upgraded, the entire floodlighting system will be replaced, lighting will be installed on all training pitches, and the gym and dressing rooms will be renovated. In addition, new modern facilities will be created for both players and parents.

The second phase will include the construction of a new multifunctional complex featuring residential accommodation, educational facilities, healthcare and sports performance areas, conference halls, and other infrastructure designed to provide a world-class football environment.

The academy will initially welcome approximately 1,000 young footballers aged 4 to 17. The programme will operate under Benfica's technical supervision and methodology, ensuring the continuous education of coaches, 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 development opportunities for young players, and strengthen Armenia's position on the regional football map.

The Benfica Academy Armenia project represents another important step towards establishing an international-standard football environment in Armenia and reflects the FFA's consistent commitment to 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 lasting value for Armenian football and help Armenia gradually become one of the leading regional centres for football education and talent development," said FFA President Armen Melikbekyan.