Armenia vs Ireland – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Armenia and Ireland go head-to-head in their second 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Monday evening.

Both sides will be searching for crucial points in Group F, with Ireland coming off a dramatic 2-2 draw with Hungary while Armenia suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat to Portugal.

Armenia vs Ireland – Match Preview and Team News

Armenia Team News

Armenia head coach Yeghishe Melikyan will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing 5-0 loss to Portugal. The hosts have been dealt several injury blows, with Norberto Briasco and Styopa Mkrtchyan both sidelined through muscle and leg injuries, respectively.

Armenia’s 23-man squad features a mix of domestic and foreign-based players, with experienced goalkeeper Henri Avagyan expected to start after his challenging evening against Portugal. Midfielders Eduard Spertsyan from Krasnodar and Vahan Bichakhchyan from Legia Warsaw will be key to providing creativity, while Lucas Zelarayán returns to the squad after a break.

Ireland Team News

Ireland faces a major blow as striker Troy Parrott is sidelined with a knee ligament injury sustained during training with AZ Alkmaar. The 23-year-old was in scintillating form, netting 10 goals in just seven matches this season, making his absence a huge miss.

Stepping up in Parrott’s place is Celtic’s Johnny Kenny, who’s earned his first senior international call-up and could make a memorable debut in Yerevan. Leading the frontline for Ireland will be Roma’s Evan Ferguson, fresh off a goalscoring display against Hungary.

Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson has also hinted at the need for squad rotation given the brutal travel demands — with a seven-hour time difference and minimal prep time on Armenian soil, the squad’s resilience will be put to the test.

Form

Armenia: LLLDL

Armenia started the qualifiers with a huge loss against Portugal(0-5). They won just once in their last 10 matches and will be looking to show some positive signs in the game against Ireland.

Ireland: WWDDD

Ireland enter this fixture unbeaten in their last five World Cup qualifying matches, though their recent 2-2 draw with Hungary showed both character and defensive vulnerabilities. Hallgrímsson’s side demonstrated remarkable resilience to recover from 2-0 down, with goals from Ferguson and Idah earning a valuable point. They currently sit third in Group F with one point.

Predicted Lineups

Armenia: Avagyan; Tiknizyan, Arutiunian, Muradyan, Piloyan; Hovhannisyan, Spertsyan, Iwu; Bichakhchyan, Zelarayán, Barseghyan.

Ireland: Kelleher; O’Brien, O’Shea, Collins, Doherty; Szmodics, Cullen, Knight, Manning; Azaz, Ferguson

How to Watch Armenia vs Ireland?

UK fans can view the match on the Amazon Prime PPV service.

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