The Kosovo World Cup 2026 squad is shaping up – and would you believe FourFourTwo if we told you that they are the current world champions?
Perhaps not, but the small European nation are the current unofficial world champions (an imaginary boxing style victory belt dating back to the very first international football fixture) after beating Sweden in qualification.
And with their current squad, there is a real chance they could make the World Cup itself.
The Kosovan national team ply their trade all across Europe, with many recruited via their diaspora links. Ex-Norwich man Milot Rashica plays for Besiktas, and is joined in Turkey by ex-Huddersfield defender Florent Hadergonaj at Alanyaspor.
The Dardarians finished second in their group behind perennial tournament knockout stage side Switzerland, beating Slovenia and Sweden (twice) on the way.
They face Slovakia in the play-off semi-finals, with the prize of a tie against Turkey or Romania awaiting the winner.
For a nation that only played their first fixture in 2014, that would be an astonishing achievement.
Kosovo World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
Kosovo World Cup 2026 squad: The squad for the March play-offs
- GK: Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo)
- GK: Visar Beka (Tirana)
- GK: Amir Saipi (Lugano)
- DF: Florent Hadergonaj (Alanyaspor)
- DF: Fidan Aliti (Alanyaspor)
- DF: Ilir Krasniqi (Polissya Zhytomyr)
- DF: Lumbardh Dellova (CSKA Sofia)
- DF: Albian Hajdari (TSG Hoffenheim)
- DF: Mergim Vojvoda (Como)
- DF: Dion Gallapeni (Wisla Plock)
- DF: Kreshnik Hajrizi (Sion)
- MF: Elvis Rexhbecaj (Augsburg)
- MF: Florent Muslija (Fortuna Düsseldorf)
- MF: Edon Zhegrova (Juventus)
- MF: Valon Berisha (Zurich)
- MF: Valdin Hoxha (Rubin Kazan)
- MF: Lindon Emerllahu (Polissya Zhytomyr)
- MF: Vesel Demaku (SCR Altach)
- FW: Milot Rashica (Besiktas)
- FW: Albion Rrahmani (Sparta Prague)
- FW: Fisnik Asllani (Hoffenheim)
- FW: Ermal Krasniqi (Legia Warsaw)
- FW: Vedat Muriqi (Mallorca)
- FW: Baton Zabergja (Metalist Kharkiv)
Kosovo fixtures and results
Fixtures
- March 26, 2026: Slovakia vs Kosovo, Bratislava, Slovakia
- March 31, 2026: Kosovo vs Turkey/Romania, Pristina, Kosovo
Recent results
- November 18, 2025: Kosovo 1-1 Switzerland, Pristina, Kosovo
- November 15, 2025: Slovenia 0-2 Kosovo, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- October 13, 2025: Sweden 0-1 Kosovo, Gothernburg, Sweden
- October 10, 2025: Kosovo 0-0 Slovenia, Pristina, Kosovo
- September 8, 2025: Kosovo 2-0 Sweden, Pristina, Kosovo
- September 5, 2025: Switzerland 4-0 Kosovo, Basel, Switzerland
Ukraine manager: Serhiy Rebrov
Who is Kosovo's manager?
Foda is perhaps best known for his four years in charge of Austria from 2018 to 2022, the highlight of which was a Euro 2020 Round of 16 tie against Italy.
The ex-defender made over 400 appearances in club football and even earned two caps for West Germany in 1987.
The first of these was met with great applause from opposition Brazilian fans when his name was read out - it was revealed that his name means 'free intercourse' in Portuguese.
Wales' star player
Who is Kosovo's star player?
An honourable mention must go to fleet-footed Juventus winger Edon Zhegrova, as well as captain Amir Rrahmani, who will be a devastating absentee in these play-offs.
But Kosovo's most important player is unquestionably their buck-toothed swashbuckling street dog of a centre forward, Vedat Muriqi.
The 31-year-old has 18 goals in 27 La Liga games this season for Mallorca, second only to Kylian Mbappe, and he netted a scorching goal in Kosovo's 2-0 embarrassment of Sweden in September.
