FC Ararat-Armenia has made history by reaching the second qualifying round of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League for the first time, following a dramatic aggregate victory over Latvian champions Riga FC. The Armenian side triumphed 4-3 over two legs, as reported by Zartonk Sports.

Historic Advancement

In the first leg, held at home, Ararat-Armenia secured a 2-0 victory, with goals from Hugo Oliveira and Carlos Franca. The second leg in Latvia proved to be more challenging, where Ararat-Armenia faced an early deficit after Riga scored two goals within the first 23 minutes. However, a tactical adjustment by head coach Manuel Tulipa at halftime turned the tide. Captain Armen Hambardzumyan was introduced, leading to a quick response from Zhirayr Shaghoyan, who scored shortly after the break, followed by a long-range equalizer from Sandro Lima. Despite conceding a late penalty that resulted in a 3-2 loss for the night, Ararat-Armenia's aggregate score was enough to see them through.

Next Challenge Against Shamrock Rovers

Ararat-Armenia will now face Irish champions Shamrock Rovers in the next round. The first leg is scheduled for July 21 at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan, with the return leg taking place on July 28 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Reaching this stage guarantees Ararat-Armenia European football into the fall, as they will drop into the Europa League Champions Path third qualifying round if they do not advance further.

Shamrock Rovers, who advanced after a comeback victory against Floriana, will present a formidable challenge for Ararat-Armenia as they look to continue their historic run in European competition.