The countdown has begun for one of the most important matches in the history of Kosovo football. On March 26, Kosovo will face Slovakia in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff, at the National Stadium in Bratislava.
Kosovo coach Franco Foda spoke to the media outlet “Kronen Zeitung”, where he emphasized that the team has prepared with high intensity for this decisive challenge.
“My assistant coaches and I have been travelling a lot in recent months, observing our players,” the 59-year-old said, adding that the objective is clear.
Franci Foda, Kosovo selector telegrafi.com
“When you get this far, you naturally want to take the next step. Next week we face Slovakia away. If we qualify further, we will have a home match against the winner of the Turkey-Romania duel,” he told Austrian media outlet Kronen Zeitung.
Kosovo has reached this stage after an impressive performance in the group, while Foda considers the opponent to be very strong, especially at home.
“The Slovaks are extremely strong at home, which was also shown by their victory against Germany. But now we have more quality players in the team. The options and quality have increased with the arrival of Fisnik Asllani, Leon Avdullah and Albion Hajdari. We have already won abroad against Sweden, Slovenia and Iceland. So we have a lot of confidence. I would say the chances are 50 to 50”, Foda stressed.
The German coach also spoke about the atmosphere and great support enjoyed by the Kosovo National Team.
“On the way to your editorial office, two Kosovars who live in Graz stopped me on the street and wished me success. This shows that everyone is anxious. It is extraordinary how many fans travel with us. We feel at home everywhere. In Sweden, half of the stadium was filled with Kosovars. This gives the team great energy,” he said.
Foda added that no one expected Kosovo to reach this stage in a group with strong opponents, while emphasizing that the team fully deserved this success.
Regarding a possible qualification for the 2026 World Cup, he was cautious.
“No, we can’t make plans before the qualifying matches. The only thing that’s certain is that our camp will be located between Los Angeles and San Francisco. If we go to the World Cup, I would like to sleep in a youth hostel,” he declared with humor.
Kosovo is aiming for a historic achievement, while the match against Slovakia is expected to be the biggest test yet for the team led by Foda. /Telegraph/