The Armenia national football team played their first ever international match in 1992 after the split of the Soviet Union. They faced Moldova but it was not until the European Championships in 1996 that they began attempting qualification for major tournaments. Since then the Armenia national football team have entered all qualifying competitions for both the Euros and the world cup but have never qualified for either.

The team had an upturn in fortunes in 2007 when they picked up wins against Kazakhstan and Poland and managed a creditable draw against Portugal. This was all under the guidance of Scot Ian Porterfield. Porterfield was a professional footballer before he became a manager and won the FA cup with Sunderland. Infamously he became the first ever manager sacked during the new FA Premier league when Chelsea dispensed with his services. After that he managed various club and international sides before becoming the Armenia national football team’s manager. Unfortunately his work was left unfinished as he died of cancer at the age of 61.

The Armenia national football team’s best qualifying campaign to date was for Euro 2012. They ended up the top goalscorers in the group and finished third, missing out on the play-off to the Republic of Ireland who defeated them in Dublin.