UEFA has published an analysis of the European World Cup 2026 play-off semifinals, highlighting the Kosovo national team.
According to UEFA, Kosovo is one of the teams aiming to make a historic step toward World Cup qualification, having reached this stage thanks to their second-place finish in the qualifying group.
In their analysis of the semifinals, UEFA notes that Kosovo will face Slovakia in a crucial match, where any mistake could be decisive, as the games are single-elimination.
“Kosovo’s goal is a first-ever major final in history, and their German coach, Franco Foda, draws confidence from their five-match unbeaten streak (3 wins, 2 draws),” UEFA stated.
The article emphasizes that this stage involves 16 national teams competing for just four World Cup spots, making the competition extremely tough and the pressure very high for all teams.
If Kosovo overcomes Slovakia, they will face the winner of the Turkey vs. Romania tie in the final for a place at the 2026 World Cup.
In summary, UEFA considers Kosovo one of the teams that could surprise at this stage, with the match against Slovakia seen as a key moment in their historic World Cup qualification dream.
