Kosovo are one game away from their first World Cup appearance, with a playoff against Turkey in Pristina on Tuesday deciding their fate. A win would secure a place in Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay, and co-hosts the United States. The match has become a rallying cry for national pride in the Balkan nation, which declared independence in 2008 and joined Fifa and Uefa in 2016.
Coach Franco Foda said the match would attract 100,000 people if the Fadil Vokrri Stadium were large enough, though its capacity is 14,000. The team's qualification campaign has been remarkable: ranked 99th at the start, they finished bottom of their group in 2021 but advanced via shock wins over Sweden and Slovenia. Thursday's dramatic 4-3 victory over Slovakia in the playoff semi-final set up the decisive clash.
Vedat Muriqi, Kosovo's star striker who plays for Mallorca, said reaching the World Cup is the pinnacle of a footballer's career and just 'one small step' away. 'Then we can also bring happiness to people all over Kosovo,' he added. Turkey, ranked 23rd, present a formidable challenge, but Muriqi noted their weaknesses and said home support would help.
Former international Elbasan Rashani, now at Melbourne City, said the team became 'a symbol that anything is possible' and showed the way for recognition of Kosovo. He recalled how the first coach, Albert Bunjaki, drove around Europe to convince diaspora players to join the project. Kosovo came close to qualifying for Euro 2020, losing a playoff to North Macedonia, and now have another chance to make history.
