North Macedonia will be looking to qualify for their first-ever World Cup via this month’s play-offs.
Goce Sedloski’s side booked their place in the play-offs when they finished third in qualifying Group J behind Belgium and Wales, which has seen then paired against Denmark in the play-off semi-final.
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Should North Macedonia upset the odds and win their next two matches, it will be their first World Cup appearance and second showing in a major international tournament, following their Euro 2020 tilt.
It would also be a remarkable achievement for a nation that played its first match in 1993.
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North Macedonia coach Goce Seloski has called up 26 players for the match against Denmark, drawing on players who ply their trade in Europe, Asia and North America.
He also has a number of experiened stalwarts to call upon, with five players having earned 70 or more caps for their country.
SquadNorth Macedonia World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
- GK: Stole Dimitrievski (Valencia)
- GK: Damjan Shishkovski (Borac Banja Luka)
- GK: Dejan Iliev (Rapid București)
- DF: Ezgjan Alioski (Lugano)
- DF: Visar Musliu (Sint-Truiden)
- DF: Darko Velkovski (Vardar)
- DF: Gjoko Zajkov (Ajman)
- DF: Egzon Bejtullai (Drita)
- DF: Nikola Serafimov (Levski Sofia)
- DF: Andrej Stojchevski (Slovácko)
- DF: Imran Fetai (Shkëndija)
- DF: Sebastián Herrera (Borac Banja Luka)
- MF: Enis Bardhi (Konyaspor)
- MF: Eljif Elmas (Napoli)
- MF: Boban Nikolov (Vardar)
- MF: Tihomir Kostadinov (Slovácko)
- MF: Jani Atanasov (AEL)
- MF: Isnik Alimi (Dalian Yingbo)
- MF: Luka Stankovski (Kolos Kovalivka)
- MF: Reshat Ramadani (Shkëndija)
- FW: Aleksandar Trajkovski (Lokomotiva Zagreb)
- FW: Bojan Miovski (Rangers)
- FW: Darko Churlinov (Kocaelispor)
- FW: Milan Ristovski (Bohemians)
- FW: Lirim Qamili (Sønderjyske)
- FW: Ljupcho Doriev (Sogdiana)
- FW: Elmin Rastoder (Thun)
- FW: Danny Musovski (Seattle Sounders)
Fixtures and results
March 26, 2026: Denmark v North Macedonia, Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark
November 18, 2025: Wales 7-1 North Macedonia, Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
November 13 2025: North Macedonia 0-0 Latvia, Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia
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October 13, 2025: North Macedonia 1-1 Kazakhstan, Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia
October 10, 2025: Belgium 0-0 North Macedonia, Planet Group Arena, Ghent, Belgium
September 7, 2025: North Macedonia 5-0 Liechtenstein, Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia
September 4, 2025: Saudi Arabia 2-1 North Macedonia, FK Viktoria Stadion, Prague, Czech Republic
ManagerWho is North Macedonia’s manager?
Goce Sedloski (Image credit: Getty Images)
Goce Sedloski was appointed as North Macedonia’s head coach after the expiration of Blagoja Milevski’s contract following the conclusion of the World Cup qualifying group stage.
That means the 51-year-old is somewhat in at the deep end as he looks to secure World Cup qualification during his first matches in charge, but he arrives in the job with plenty of experience around the national side.
As a player, former defender Sedloski was the first in the nation’s history to reach 100 caps for North Macedonia and has a short stint at Sheffield Wednesday on his CV. One of his first stops in coaching was as an assistant and then as a caretaker boss for the national team back in 2012 and begins the job in a dual-role with Macedonian side Vardar, who he has managed since 2024.
North Macedonia’s Star PlayerWho is North Macedonia’s star player?
Eljif Elmas has won 75 caps for his country (Image credit: PA)
RB Leipzig attacking midfielder Eljif Elmas has emerged as North Macedonia’s talisman following the retirement of the great Goran Pandev.
The 26-year-old, who is currently on loan at Serie A side Napoli, has already won 75 caps for his country, netting 13 times. Elmas was eligible to represent Turkey, with former boss Fatih Terim previously attempting to call him up, only for Elmas to represent his birth country.
Elmas returned to Napoli on loan in the summer following a five-year stint with the club between 2019 and 2024, during which time he helped the club win their first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era.
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