Lineups, confirmed starting teams, stream

New Armenia manager Yeghishe Melikyan will hope for his first points when Ireland visit Yerevan in a 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.

Former Pyunik boss Melikyan’s reign started with a 5-0 defeat at home to Portugal on Saturday, including two goals each for Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix.

Ireland had a more dramatic start to their qualifying campaign, recovering from 2-0 behind to draw 2-2 at home to Hungary through goals by Evan Ferguson in the 49th minute and Adam Idah during the third minute of added time.

101GreatGoals.com brings you the line-ups from Armenia vs Ireland in 2026 World Cup qualifying, as well as details on how to watch the game.

🗣️ “We’re focused on the positives from the Hungary game & taking all the good things we did in the second half”

Heimir Hallgrímsson gives his thoughts on tonight’s game ahead of kick-off 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/errBeYBF18

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 9, 2025

Armenia starting line-up vs Republic of Ireland

Long-serving Armenia captain Varazdat Haroyan retired from international football because of Melikyan’s appointment, explaining that it “didn’t work out” when the pair worked together at Pyunik and “won’t work out either” at international level.

Melikyan called the absence of the injured Styopa Mkrtchyan – the squad’s only left-footed central defender – a “big loss”.

Goalkeeper Ognjen Cancarevic had been a doubt and was an unused substitute against Portugal but starts this time, while newcomers include midfielders Narek Aghasaryan, of Armenian Premier League leaders Urartu, and Karen Nalbandyan, of second-placed Alashkert.

CSKA Moscow defender or midfielder Artyom Bandikyan was called up from the Under-21s but did not feature.

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“I want to see a change of generations and rejuvenation of the squad, gradually moving in that direction,” hoped Melikyan before his first defeat.

“There won’t be any radical decisions. I invited Aghasaryan and Nalbandyan not specifically for these matches, but so they could integrate into the team and feel the atmosphere.”

Armenia starting XI: Ognjen Cancarevic, Erik Piloyan, Georgi Harutyunyan, Sergey Muradyan, Nair Tiknizyan, Eduard Spertsyan, Ugochukwu Christus Iwu, Kamo Hovhannisyan, Lucas Manuel Zelarayán, Tigran Barseghyan, Grant-Leon Ranos

Armenia substitutes: Arsen Beglaryan, Henri Avagyan, Erik Simonyan, Edgar Sevikyan, Artur Serobyan, Gor Manvelyan, Karen Nalbandyan, Hovhannes Harutyunyan, Edgar Grigoryan, Artak Dashyan, Zhirayr Shagoyan, Vahan Bichakhchyan

Ireland starting line-up vs Armenia

Uncapped Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan has replaced Ipswich Town forward Sammie Szmodics in Ireland’s squad and is on the bench.

Szmodics was replaced after 78 minutes against Hungary and has said he hopes his injury is only minor.

Winger Chiedozie Ogbene, who is on loan to Sheffield United from Ipswich, comes in for Matt Doherty in the starting line-up, with another Tractor Boys player, Jack Taylor, supplanting Szmodics.

Republic of Ireland starting XI: Caoimhin Kelleher, Jake O’Brien, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Chiedozie Ogbene, Josh Cullen, Jack Taylor, Ryan Manning, Jason Knight, Evan Ferguson, Finn Azaz

Ireland substitutes: To follow