Armenia Claims Historic 2-1 Victory Over Ireland in World Cup Qualifying Match

Dramatic Victory in Yerevan

In a significant match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers Group F, Armenia’s national team secured a memorable 2-1 victory over Ireland at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium.

Match Highlights

The scoring opened when Eduard Spertsyan successfully converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time, marking his 10th goal for the national team and his third against Ireland.

The home team extended their lead early in the second half when Grant-Leon Ranos scored in the 51st minute, registering his first goal for the national team in two years. Ireland responded quickly through Evan Ferguson, who found the net in the 57th minute.

Match Analysis

The statistics showed an evenly matched contest, with both teams sharing 50% possession. Armenia demonstrated greater attacking intent with 9 shots on goal compared to Ireland’s 4. The intense match saw two yellow cards for Armenia and one for Ireland.

The result represents a significant upset, as Ireland suffered defeat to an Armenian side ranked 105th in the world. This marks only the third time in Ireland’s history they have been beaten by a team outside the top 90 in the FIFA rankings.

Implications for World Cup Qualification

For Ireland, this defeat deals a serious blow to their World Cup qualification hopes. The team had previously shown promise in their campaign opener against Hungary, where they managed a 2-2 draw despite a difficult start. Meanwhile, Armenia’s victory places them second in Group F with three points, strengthening their position in the qualification race.