Albania secured only one point against Serbia in their 2026 World Cup qualifier match, which ended in a goalless draw.
The game began very well for the Albanian side, who moved the ball fluently and confidently. In the 12th minute, Mario Mitaj unleashed a powerful shot from 35 meters, but Serbia was quite fortunate as the shot was central, allowing their goalkeeper to save.
Albanian players continued to attack the opponent’s goal, notably through Arbër Hoxha, who was frequently double-teamed by Serbian defenders every time he received the ball. In the 40th minute, Hoxha unleashed another powerful shot that was blocked. A golden opportunity arose in the 45+1 minute when Rey Manaj had a chance to put Albania ahead from a penalty won by Elseid Hysaj, but he failed to convert. Albania maintained its dominance until the end of the first half, but the Serbian defense remained extremely compact.
The second 45 minutes also started fiercely, with Armando Broja utilizing his speed to beat a Serbian defender, though he lost balance on the final pass. In the 54th minute, Thomas Strakosha made a brilliant save, keeping the score unchanged.
Albania attempted to score from all angles, but the Serbs were so locked in defensively that even a needle wouldn’t penetrate. This result doesn’t reflect the brilliant game played by the Albanian players, as one point isn’t enough. However, hopes remain high for maximum points in future encounters.
Albania now sits second in Group K with four points, behind England with nine, while Latvia has three, Serbia one, and Andorra is yet to register a point.
