Armenia is set to become home to one of Europe’s most prestigious football academies after Portuguese giants SL Benfica announced the launch of Benfica Academy Armenia, the club’s first academy in the Caucasus.
Opening ahead of the 2027/28 season, the academy will be based at the Football Federation of Armenia’s Technical Center in Yerevan and will initially welcome more than 1,000 boys and girls aged 4 to 17.
Operating under Benfica’s direct technical supervision, the academy will introduce the Portuguese club’s internationally acclaimed youth development model to Armenia, giving young players access to elite coaching while also helping train Armenian coaches and football professionals. The partnership will also create opportunities for talented Armenian players to attend training camps, exchange programs, and talent identification initiatives at Benfica’s academy in Lisbon.
Beyond player development, the project will deliver a major upgrade to Armenia’s football infrastructure. Six football pitches and the existing stadium at the Technical Center will be renovated, with a second phase set to transform the site into a modern high performance football complex.
Benfica described the academy as one of its largest international football development projects, with the goal of making Armenia a regional center for youth football while creating new pathways for the country’s next generation of players to reach the European stage.
