The Kosovo national football team (; ) represents Kosovo in men's international football. The team is controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo, and is under the jurisdiction of FIFA globally. Kosovo was admitted as a member of UEFA and FIFA in May 2016, allowing the team to participate in official international competitions. Prior to official recognition, Kosovan players were eligible to play for other national teams, most notably Albania national team.
Kosovo played its first official match on 5 March 2014, a friendly against Haiti national team, before gaining FIFA membership. Since joining UEFA and FIFA, Kosovo has participated in qualification campaigns for the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. The team has yet to qualify for a major tournament, but it has achieved notable results in friendly matches and UEFA Nations League competitions.
The team's home matches are primarily held at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina. Kosovo's kit is traditionally blue and white, and the squad has included players competing in top European leagues. The national team has become a symbol of national identity and pride, reflecting the development of football infrastructure and talent in Kosovo.
Caps and goals are correct , after the match against Republic of Ireland.
Kosovo also played its first recorded match in history on 29 November 1942, a friendly as part of the celebrations for the 30th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania against Tirana, which ended in a 2–0 away defeat.
Player records Players in bold are called up to the squad in last 12 months and are still active at international level. Players with flags in front of their name are players who represented Kosovo, but now represent another national team. Player is not available at international level due to FIFA eligibility rules.
Most appearances
Longest career length
NameCareer lengthFirst capLast capOpponentDateOpponentDateAmir Rrahmani25 May 201415 November 2025Leart Paqarada7 September 20145 September 2025Zymer Bytyqi5 March 201418 November 2024
Youngest players on debut Nine players made their debut for Kosovo before turning 19, four of them under 18. Several players were not yet of age on their debut. Among these youngest debutants, some have gone on to become regular internationals, scoring goals and achieving notable careers. This table lists the youngest players to appear for the Kosovo national football team, including their age at debut, positions, caps, goals, opponents, and debut dates. PlayerDate of birthAge at debutOpponentDate Enis BunjakiFW17 October 199725 May 2014Erblin OsmaniMF19 May 200924 September 2026Zymer BytyqiMF11 September 19965 March 2014Bersant CelinaMF9 September 19967 September 2014Julian BiblekaGK4 May 199625 May 2014Eliot BujupiFW3 July 20069 September 2024Visar BekajGK24 May 199713 November 2015Lirim R. KastratiDF2 February 19999 October 2017Edon ZhegrovaMF31 March 199924 March 2018Ismet LushakuMF22 September 200012 January 2020
Oldest players Oldest players on debut
This list includes the oldest players to make their debut for the Kosovo national football team. PlayerDate of birthAge at debutOpponentDateArdian GashiMF20 June 19815 March 2014 Debatik CurriDF28 December 198321 May 2014Albert BunjakuFW29 November 19835 March 2014Besart BerishaFW29 July 198524 March 2017Adis NurkovićGK28 April 198611 June 2017Alban MehaMF26 April 19865 September 2016Lapidar LladrovciDF15 December 199012 January 2020Besar MusolliMF28 February 19896 October 2017
Oldest players at last match
This list includes the oldest players to appear for the Kosovo national football team. PlayerDate of birthAge at last matchOpponentDateSamir UjkaniGK5 July 198827 September 2022Shpëtim HasaniFW10 August 198213 November 2015Ardian GashiMF20 June 19817 September 2014Albert BunjakuFW29 November 19836 October 2016Valon BerishaMF7 February 199310 October 2025Bernard BerishaMF24 October 19915 June 2024Kristian NushiMF21 July 19827 September 2014Fidan AlitiDF3 October 199310 October 2025Enis AlushiMF22 December 19855 September 2017Besart BerishaFW29 July 198524 March 2017
Captains
This list includes players who have captained the Kosovo national football team, ranked from the oldest to the youngest. PlayerDate of birthAge at first captaincyOpponentDateBesnik HasiDF29 December 197115 June 2007Genc Hoxha15 September 195714 February 1993Mërgim VojvodaDF1 February 19956 June 2025Enis AlushiMF22 December 198525 May 2014Vedat MuriqiFW24 April 199424 September 2022Herolind ShalaMF1 February 199221 March 2019Samir UjkaniGK5 July 198810 October 2015Fidan AlitiDF3 October 199312 January 2020Hekuran KryeziuMF12 February 199325 March 2019Amir RrahmaniDF24 February 19947 June 2019Valon BerishaMF7 February 199320 November 2018Anel RashkajMF19 August 19895 March 2014Florian LoshajMF13 August 199611 June 2021Visar BekajGK24 May 19978 June 2021Lirim R. KastratiFW2 February 199919 November 2022
Competitive players records Most appearances in competitive matches (World Cup, European Championships, Nations League and qualifiers) Amir Rrahmani (2014–present), 52 Mërgim Vojvoda (2017–present), 52 Vedat Muriqi (2016–present), 51 Milot Rashica (2016–present), 50
Most appearances at the FIFA World Cup qualifiers Vedat Muriqi & Milot Rashica, 18
Most appearances at the UEFA European Championship qualifying Arijanet Muriqi, Mërgim Vojvoda & Fidan Aliti, 17
Most appearances in the UEFA Nations League Amir Rrahmani 22
List of national players who were not born in Kosovo
Goals
Top goalscorers
Youngest goalscorers
This list includes the five youngest players to have scored their first goal for the Kosovo national football team. Player Date of birth Age at first goal Opponent DateBersant CelinaMF9 September 1996 13 November 2015Lirim M. KastratiFW16 January 199918 November 2020Imran BunjakuMF18 October 19927 September 2014Donis AvdijajFW25 August 199617 November 2018Elbasan RashaniFW9 May 199313 November 2015
Oldest goalscorers
This list includes the five oldest players to have scored their first goal for the Kosovo national football team. Player Date of birth Age at first goal Opponent DateAlbert BunjakuFW29 November 198321 May 2014Bernard BerishaMF24 October 19916 September 2020Fidan AlitiDF3 October 199324 March 2022Atdhe NuhiuFW29 July 198924 March 2017Benjamin KololliMF15 May 199211 October 2018
Hat-tricks
PlayerDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionArbër Zeneli20 November 2018Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo1–02–04–04–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualificationVedat Muriqi1 June 20211–02–03–04–04–1Friendly23 March 2025Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain1–12–13–13–12024–25 UEFA Nations League play-offsAlbion Rrahmani9 June 2025Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo1–12–13–14–2 Friendly
Best goal ratio This table lists Kosovo national team players ranked by their goals-to-caps ratio. PlayerGoalsCapsRatioMërgim Brahimi22Vedat Muriqi3264Albert Bunjaku36 Uran Bislimi12Muhamet Hyseni12Donis Avdijaj26Imran Bunjaku13 Arbër Hoxha13Arb Manaj13Altin Zeqiri13
Team results Biggest wins
Highest-scoring draws
Biggest defeats
Match statistics
Opponents to continental federations This table shows Kosovo's head-to-head record aggregated by continental football association and non-FIFA teams. Continental AssociationUEFAEuropeAFCAsiaCAFAfricaCONCACAFNorth and Central AmericaConIFANon-FIFACONMEBOLSouth AmericaTotal
Match type TournamentFriendly matchesFIFA World Cup qualifiersUEFA Nations LeagueUEFA European Championship qualifyingKTFF 50th Anniversary CupTotal
All international matches
Venues
Kosovo's home stadium is the Fadil Vokrri Stadium. The stadium capacity is 13,500, which makes it the second largest national stadium in Kosovo. Kosovo's previous national stadium was the Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium which is currently under renovation. Kosovo also used Loro Boriçi Stadium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, and this happened after the two stadiums in Pristina and Mitrovica at that time were under renovation and do not meet UEFA standards. On 12 July 2019, the construction of Kosovo National Stadium began, and two days later the project of this stadium was presented which would have a capacity of 30,000 seats, but after the presentation, the construction was suspended for political reasons related to the location.
Kosovo national football team home stadiumsStadiumCapacityLocationFirst matchLast matchUEFAcategoryOpponentDateOpponentDateFadil Vokrri StadiumPristina, Kosovo8 November 196724 September 2026Loro Boriçi StadiumShkodër, Albania6 October 20166 October 2017Adem Jashari Olympic StadiumMitrovica, Kosovo5 March 201413 November 2017
Competitive record FIFA World Cup On 9 June 2016, the UEFA Emergency Panel decided that Kosovo would join Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Turkey and Ukraine in Group I, and also decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia should not play against Kosovo for security reasons. On 5 September 2016, Kosovo made its debut in FIFA World Cup qualification with a 1–1 away draw against Finland, with Kosovo's equalizing goal being scored by newcomer Valon Berisha from a penalty kick in the 60th minute. On 2 September 2021, Kosovo achieved their first win in the FIFA World Cup qualifications a 1–0 away win against Georgia.
UEFA European Championship On 2 December 2018, in Dublin, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group A of the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, together with Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Montenegro and 2018 World Cup fourth place finisher England. On 25 March 2019, Kosovo made their debut on UEFA European Championship qualifying with a 1–1 home draw against Bulgaria and the draw goal was scored by Arbër Zeneli on the 61st minute. On 11 June 2019, Kosovo won their first qualifying match for a major tournament by defeating Bulgaria 3–2.
UEFA Nations League Kosovo's Nations League recordFirst match 0–0 (Baku, Azerbaijan; 7 September 2018)Biggest win 0–5 (Ta' Qali, Malta; 17 November 2018)Biggest defeat 0–3 (Pristina, Kosovo; 6 September 2024)Best result38th place in 2024–25Worst result44th place in 2020–21 On 24 January 2018, in Lausanne, it was decided that Kosovo should be part of League D in Group 3 of the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, together with Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands and Malta. On 7 September 2018, Kosovo made their debut in the UEFA Nations League with a 0–0 away draw against Azerbaijan. On 10 September 2018, Kosovo achieved their first win in the UEFA Nations League, which was also the team's first-ever competitive win, a 2–0 home win against the Faroe Islands. Kosovo finished the league unbeaten (with four wins and two draws) and will be promoted to the next tier (C league) for the next edition.
Non-FIFA Tournament Kosovo for first time after the Kosovo War participated in a tournament held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Cyprus Turkish Football Association. Kosovo lost against the host with result 1–0 and won against Sàpmi with result 4–1.
Notes
References