Underdogs with a Dream: Kosovo’s Quest in the World Cup Qualifiers
As the race to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup heats up, football fans from around the globe are turning their attention to the thrilling drama of the qualifiers.
Teams from every continent are battling for a coveted spot in the world’s most prestigious tournament, while bettors and analysts are closely studying the outright odds for global champions to gauge which nations have the best shot at glory.
Among the emerging stories, a small nation has captured the attention of fans. Kosovo’s national football team finds itself in a stronger position than ever before.
With solid performances in the opening rounds of UEFA qualification, Kosovo has given fans genuine hope that a place on football’s biggest stage could soon become reality.
Where does Kosovo currently stand?
Kosovo have been drawn into Group B of the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign, one of twelve groups that will determine which nations travel to North America next summer.
Their group features:
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Slovenia
- Kosovo
Each team will play in both home and away matches against their group opponents, with points determining the final standings. As of October 2025, Kosovo surprisingly sits in a comfortable second position, collecting seven points from their first four matches and earning two landmark victories over Sweden, one of the group favourites.
They are currently three points behind group leaders Switzerland, while Slovenia have four points, and Sweden trails at the back on a single point.
For a nation that only joined FIFA and UEFA in 2016, it’s a remarkable sign of progress.
How does the qualification system work?
Each of the 12 group winners will book a direct ticket to the World Cup, while the 12 runners-up, as well as the four best-performing Nations League teams, advance to a playoff.
These teams will be split into “mini tournaments” with one-leg semi-finals and finals. Each winner of those paths with then secure a World Cup spot.
Kosovo’s path to qualification
Route one – finish first
The simplest, but toughest path is for them to win Group B outright, which would guarantee Kosovo’s first-ever appearance at a World Cup.
To achieve this, they would need to:
- Win their remaining fixtures, especially against Switzerland and Slovenia
- Hope Switzerland drops points elsewhere
- Maintain a substantial goal difference, which could be decisive in a tie
Route two – finish second
A more realistic route is for Kosovo to finish second, which would send them to the play-offs in March next year.
If they can avoid defeat to Slovenia, their top-two position will be confirmed, sending them to a high-stakes knockout format. The play-off route is perilous but more than achievable, as several nations, including Croatia (2018) and Wales (2022), have used it successfully in recent years.
Regardless of how the campaign ends, Kosovo’s 2026 World Cup qualifying journey represents a football milestone. Despite being the most recent nation to become a full UEFA member, the team has shown tactical maturity, belief, and genuine competitiveness.
For fans in Pristina and beyond, the dream that seemed distant only a few years ago is now very much alive.
Every match will matter, every goal could be historic, and every point might bring Kosovo one step closer to the global stage.
