Goal Programme - Football Federation of Armenia - 2001

Since gaining independence in 1991, Armenia has been writing its own football history and the national association takes part in all FIFA competitions (senior, youth and women's football). Ararat Yerevan were one of the leading teams in the top league in the Soviet Union, often playing in European club competitions. A number of Armenian players played for the «Sbornaja» (national team), including Khoren Oganesian at the 1982 FIFA World Cup and Eduard Markarov in the 1970s. Both played for Ararat Yerevan. Markarov later became assistant coach of the Soviet Union's youth team, and was part of the coaching staff at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Portugal in 1991, when the team finished third.

On 23 May 2003, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter opened the football school of the Armenian FA. In Yerevan, this school is known as «Malatia». The former state-run institution was built in 1966, was the best of its kind and counts many talented footballers among its alumni. The national association was able to assume control of the institute, renovating it with money provided by the Goal Programme. The remaining costs were covered by the FIFA Financial Assistance Programme and the Armenian Government. The football school has five large and two small grass pitches, a number of sand pitches, dressing rooms, a massage room, a swimming pool and even a sauna. The new director, Mikhael Zakharian, has in been in charge for over a year. Currently, approximately 700 students, between the ages of 7 and 17 and divided into 32 teams, are studying there. Zakharian's goal is to provide a better future for as many children as possible.