Juventus Academy Armenia is set to officially open in August 2026, according to a new announcement shared by the academy, marking a major milestone for youth football development in Armenia and advancing previously approved plans to establish a Juventus-affiliated academy at Yerevan’s iconic Hrazdan Stadium.
Organizers said the project team has been working extensively in recent months to establish a training environment that meets high international standards. The academy aims to provide young footballers in Armenia with access to top-level football education based on the methodology of Italy’s Juventus FC.
“We have gone through a long and responsible journey to create an environment that meets international standards and becomes a real opportunity to receive high-quality football education,” the statement reads.
A press conference is expected to be held in the near future, during which organizers will present further details about the academy and address questions from the public.
Background
A Juventus Football Academy was previously expected to be established at Yerevan’s Hrazdan Stadium following the Armenian government’s official approval of a bill at a Cabinet meeting in 2024. The initiative was described as a significant milestone in the development of youth football in Armenia and followed the Italian Juventus football club’s announcement in April 2024 of its intention to expand its presence in the region.
The academy was set to be developed by Next Gen Sports, an Armenian company, which has been granted the property rights to use the facilities and buildings located at 20/4 Avan Acharyan Street in Yerevan for a period of 25 years.
As part of the project, Next Gen Sports committed to investing 1 billion AMD (approximately $2.6 million) over the next five years in the development of the academy and the enhancement of Hrazdan Stadium and its surrounding facilities, with the goal of meeting the highest standards.
A major component of the project was the privatization of the Hrazdan Sports Complex CJSC, which includes the reserve field adjacent to the iconic Hrazdan Stadium. The bill approved by the Armenian government provided for the privatization of 100% of the shares of the complex, reinforcing the long-term vision for the initiative.
The Juventus Football Academy in Yerevan was expected to operate as a franchise, adhering to the standards set by the Italian club for training junior footballers. It was also expected to feature state-of-the-art training facilities, including a football field, swimming pool, and other auxiliary facilities provided by the Children’s and Youth Olympic Athletics School and the Football Federation of Armenia.
Next Gen Sports also planned to build a modern training complex equipped with advanced technologies such as GPS systems to analyze players’ actions and develop game strategies. European coaches were expected to oversee the training, and football agents were expected to monitor the performance of Armenian juniors with the goal of facilitating their transition to European clubs. The company expected to generate income from contracts between its students and these European clubs, positioning the project as a potentially lucrative venture for both the academy and participating young footballers.
The establishment of the Juventus Football Academy at Hrazdan Stadium was described as a major investment in Armenian football, offering young Armenian talents the opportunity to train under top European coaching and potentially paving the way for future careers in European football, while also revitalizing one of Yerevan’s most iconic sports venues.
