Overview
Kosovo has gone through an impressive 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign when finishing in second place in Group B, above both Sweden and Slovenia.
Under the guidance of coach Franco Foda, this team won three victories, one draw and only lost one match to Switzerland on the opening day. That result caused Kosovo to be 3 points behind the leading team and forced to enter the play-offs.
In the semi-finals, Kosovo defeated Slovakia with a thrilling 4-3 victory, thereby only one match away from the first World Cup ticket in history.
Their opponent in the play-off final is Turkey, the team that just defeated Romania 1-0 thanks to Ferdi Kadioglu's decisive goal.
Coach Vincenzo Montella's team also has a stable qualifying journey when they only lost one match against Spain. 4 wins and one draw help them easily maintain second place, 10 points ahead of the team behind.
Turkey entered this match with the goal of ending their long absence from the World Cup since 2002 - a tournament where they once finished third after defeating South Korea.
Head-to-head history also leans completely towards the Eastern European representative when Turkey has won all three of their most recent encounters with Kosovo, including a 4-1 victory in 2017.
The upcoming play-off final is therefore not only a historic opportunity for Kosovo, but also a test of bravery for Turkey in their journey back to the World Cup stage. The winning team will participate in Group D with the USA, Australia and Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup.
Personnel situation
After the dramatic victory over Slovakia, Kosovo is unlikely to have many personnel changes in this important play-off final.
Coach Franco Foda is expected to continue to place his trust in the framework that has operated effectively. In attack, captain Vedat Muriqi will stand side by side with Fisnik Asllani, forming the main spearhead.
On the two wing corridors, Mergim Vojvoda and Dion Gallapeni continue to take on the role of full-backs, bringing width and attack support capability.
On the other side, Turkey faces concerns about the fitness of captain Hakan Calhanoglu. This midfielder had a calf problem and had to leave the field at the end of the victory over Romania, but was still expected to be able to participate.
Meanwhile, semi-final hero Ferdi Kadioglu is almost certain to start. This defender will continue to be present in the four-man defense system, alongside Mert Muldur, Samet Akaydin and Abdulkerim Bardakci.
With the vital nature of the match, Kosovo's stability and Calhanoglu's fitness problem could become key factors determining the outcome of the confrontation.
Expected lineup:
Kosovo: Muric, Vojvoda, Dellova, Hajrizi, Hajdari, Gallapeni, Hodza, Rexhbecaj, Muslija, Asllani, Muriqi.
Türkiye: Cakir, Muldur, Akaydin, Bardakci, Kadioglu, Yuksek, Calhanoglu, Yilmaz, Guler, Yildiz, Akturkoglu.
The match between Kosovo and Turkey takes place at 1:45 am on April 1 (Vietnam time).
