The FFA duly became a member of the game's world and European governing bodies, FIFA and UEFA, in 1992. The national team made their competitive debut in qualification for the 1996 UEFA European Championship. Armenia kicked off with a 2–0 defeat against Belgium on 7 September 1994 yet also made history in that EURO '96 campaign. The team recorded their first competitive victory when they won 2–1 against FYR Macedonia on 6 September 1995. Since then, Armenia have been a permanent fixture in EURO and World Cup qualifying tournaments, earning the notable achievement of finishing third in their UEFA EURO 2012 group, during which talismanic attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who then played in FC Shakhtar Donetsk, emerged as a player of top international caliber.