Armenia’s FC Noah has again earned a place in the league phase of the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League, becoming the first Armenian club to reach a European competition in consecutive seasons. The defending Armenian champions achieved the feat by overpowering Slovenian titleholders Olimpija Ljubljana 7–3 on aggregate in the play-off round.
The tie effectively swung in Noah’s favor during the first leg on August 21 in Ljubljana. Moroccan midfielder Imran Oulad Omar scored a hat?trick and Croatian forward Marin Jakoliš added another goal as the visitors cruised to a 4–1 victory; Portuguese winger Hélder Ferreira provided two assists. Olimpija’s only reply came from Ivan Durdov. Carrying that advantage home to Abovyan on August 28, Noah finished the job with a 3–2 win. Hélder Ferreira broke through in the 13th minute and set up Brazilian striker Matheus Aiás seven minutes later, establishing a two?goal cushion. Olimpija leveled the match in the second half via an Antonio Marin penalty and a strike by Durdov, but in the 77th minute Hovhannes Harutyunyan scored his first goal for Noah to secure the victory. The result made the aggregate score 7–3.
Noah’s path to this achievement began in July during the UEFA Champions League qualifiers. They defeated Montenegro’s Budu?nost Podgorica in the first qualifying round, winning 1–0 at home and drawing 2–2 in Podgorica thanks to goals from Imran Oulad Omar and new signing Alen Grgi?. In the second qualifying round, Noah faced Hungarian champions Ferencváros. After a narrow 1–2 home defeat in the first leg, the second leg in Budapest produced a seven?goal thriller. Noah responded three times to goals from Aleksandar Peši?, Lenny Joseph and a Kristoffer Zachariassen penalty, with Hélder Ferreira, Matheus Aiás and Alen Grgi? finding the net; however substitute Barnabás Varga scored in the 74th minute to give Ferencváros a 4–3 win and a 6–4 aggregate triumph. Relegated to the Europa League third qualifying round, Noah drew 1–1 with Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps in the first leg and were held 0–0 in Abovyan before losing 6–5 on penalties.
Dropping into the Conference League play?offs, Noah capitalized on their second chance against Olimpija Ljubljana. The two victories secured their return to Europe’s third?tier competition and provided Armenian fans with another autumn of continental football. The club will learn its six league?phase opponents when UEFA conducts the draw on August 29, and the league?phase match days are scheduled for October 2, October 23, November 6, November 27, December 11, and December 18. Noah’s progress highlights a period of unprecedented consistency for Armenian club football and offers a chance to further raise the country’s profile on the European stage.
