We didn’t expect it: Kosovo starts World Cup qualifiers with embarrassing defeat

We didn’t expect it: Kosovo starts World Cup qualifiers with embarrassing defeat

The Kosovo national team has suffered a heavy defeat in the first round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The “Dardans” were soundly defeated by Switzerland in Basel, with the score of 4-0.

Initially, Manuel Akanji opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, after a header.

Then, three minutes later, Breel Embolo scored the next goal to make it 2-0.

For 3-0, Widmer found the net, scoring in the 40th minute.

In the final seconds of the first half, Breel Embolo came back on stage for the fourth goal of the match.

This is how the first half ended, while the second half produced fewer good scoring chances.

Switzerland had two through Embolo – one was stopped by Arijanet Muric, while the other was converted into a goal, but was disallowed for offside.

Kosovo is already last in Group B, after the first round. First is Switzerland.

Kosovo plays its next match at home against Sweden on September 8./Express newspaper/