‘anything Is Possible’: Kosovo One Game Away From World Cup Fairytale

They are a World Cup fairytale, a footballing federation hardly a decade aged pinch less group than South Australia. A Balkan West Virginia, but pinch a fraction of nan area, and a checkered past.

Minnows Kosovo are conscionable 1 crippled distant from their first quality astatine a World Cup, and a spot beckons successful group D alongside Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts nan United States.

All that stands successful their measurement is simply a single, all-or-nothing playoff against Turkey astatine location successful Pristina connected Tuesday. It is simply a marvellous climax to a qualification run that has go a rallying outcry for nationalist optimism and pride.

Kosovo coach Franco Foda said Tuesday’s lucifer would pull 100,000 group – adjacent to half nan number of residents successful nan superior Pristina – if nan Fadil Vokrri Stadium was ample capable to fresh them each in. Unfortunately, its capacity is conscionable 14,000, though 25,000 squeezed successful for a 2007 capacity by rapper 50 Cent successful what was a important infinitesimal of postwar healing.

This is simply a spot wherever conflict is not easy forgotten. Not acold from nan stadium, a constabulary position was bombed by Nato during nan 1998-99 war. In nan country’s north, tensions still simmer pinch neighbouring Serbia.

For a federation for illustration Kosovo, shot intends thing more. “As a nationalist team, we became a awesome that thing is possible,” says Melbourne City winger Elbasan Rashani, who played 29 times for Kosovo betwixt 2016 and 2024. “We showed nan measurement for nan group of Kosovo, of being recognised.”

Kreshnik Hajrizi celebrates scoring Kosovo’s captious 4th extremity during nan World Cup qualification play-off semi-final against Slovakia. Photograph: Christian Hofer/UEFA/Getty Images

After Thursday’s dramatic 4-3 triumph complete Slovakia successful nan playoff semi-final successful Bratislava, president of nan Kosovo Football Federation, Agim Ademi, called nan Kosovo players “gladiators”. Kosovans celebrated nan triumph pinch fireworks connected nan streets of Pristina, and successful remark threads connected societal media. Slovakia, for illustration Serbia, does not recognise Kosovan independence. Neither country’s shot team, it was noted, will beryllium going to North America.

Kosovo whitethorn beryllium person than ever to a historical World Cup appearance, but Foda said group must not get carried away. “We person affectional fans, but we must beryllium observant and not let ourselves to make mistakes. Success is only achieved by maintaining calm.”

Kosovo’s prima striker Vedat Muriqi, who plays for Mallorca successful Spain, said reaching nan World Cup is nan pinnacle of a footballer’s profession and conscionable “one mini step” was left. “Then we tin besides bring happiness to group each complete Kosovo,” he said.

Turkey – classed 23 successful nan world – coming a formidable challenge, however. “We cognize Turkey’s qualities. They are a amended squad than Slovakia. We besides cognize their weaknesses,” nan guardant said. “We will springiness our best. With nan support of nan fans, I judge it will beryllium a small easier.”

Elbasan Rashani plays for Melbourne City aft earning 29 world caps for Kosovo betwixt 2016 and 2024. Photograph: James Worsfold/Getty Images

In 2021, Kosovo vanished bottommost of their World Cup qualification group, winning conscionable 1 match. Ahead of nan tie for nan 2026 edition, nan Kosovans were classed 99th erstwhile they entered qualification, down moreover historical easy thumps Luxembourg.

They were clear outsiders successful a group made up of Sweden, Switzerland and Slovenia, and qualification looked each but intolerable aft a 4-0 nonaccomplishment successful Basel successful their first match. But 2 daze wins against Sweden, positive different upset against Slovenia, booked Kosovo a spot successful nan play-offs.

A World Cup quality would beryllium a stirring accomplishment for a federation whose independency was only declared successful 2008, and who only joined Fifa and Uefa successful 2016.

Rashani – calved successful Sweden and raised successful Norway by Kosovan parents who fled their homeland successful 1992 – was location for overmuch of nan team’s formative period, arsenic 1 of respective Kosovan players from nan diaspora invited to play. “We ever had nan belief,” he said.

“I retrieve our first coach Albert Bunjaki astatine nan clip erstwhile they wanted to create a nationalist team. He took his car and he was driving each astir Europe to spot america 1 by one, nan players, and show america astir nan task and person america to play for Kosovo. So from early on, you could consciousness that this is thing special.”

Kosovo came wrong 90 minutes of qualifying for Euro 2020, erstwhile a broadside depleted by respective absences owed to Covid-19 restrictions mislaid 2-1 successful a playoff to North Macedonia. Rashani played successful that lucifer successful Skopje, and knows nan advantage nan location crowd will connection this clip around. “I ever opportunity to my friends, you don’t request a lukewarm up earlier playing for Kosovo, you get chills conscionable by listening to nan supporters.”

This clip however, Rashani will aftermath up earlier 5am to watch nan playoff arsenic a fan, from his location successful Australia. “People each astir nan world who person immoderate relationship to Kosovo will watch. It’s specified a immense crippled for us, and hopefully, we tin make it.”