Academy of Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica to open in Armenia

An official academy of the Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica will begin operating in Yerevan. The launch of the Benfica Academy Armenia project, starting with the 2027/2028 season, was announced by the Football Federation of Armenia and Football Investment Group.

The Armenian academy will become the third such development center in SL Benfica’s international network. Around 1,000 children and teenagers between the ages of four and 17 are expected to train at the new academy.

Ahead of the project’s launch, the infrastructure of the FFA’s technical center-academy will be upgraded: six football fields will be renovated, two new artificial-turf fields will be built, and the stadium, lighting, gym, and locker rooms will be modernized, along with the creation of new areas for athletes and parents. The next stage envisions the construction of a multifunctional complex with residential, educational, medical, and sports facilities.

The academy will operate according to Benfica’s methodology and under its technical oversight, including coach training, a unified player development system, and the transfer of international expertise to Armenian specialists.