Sport in Albania revolves mostly around team sports, such as football, basketball, volleyball and handball. Other sports includes boxing, weightlifting, tennis, swimming, judo, karate, athletics, table tennis, badminton, rugby, cricket, and chess. Football in particular has seen a rapid transformation, with the Albania national football team making its debut at the 1964 UEFA European Football Championship. The national football team also qualified for the 2016 UEFA European Football Championship. Many Albanian athletes have also achieved significant success and have won European and Mediterranean titles in numerous sports during the years, such as wrestling, football, athletics and weightlifting. Albanian athletes have won a total 49 medals for Albania in 8 different Mediterranean sports.
Football
Football is the most popular sport in Albania. It arrived in Albania at the beginning of the 20th century. Football is played by children at school and by grown-ups on the many indoor and outdoor fields located throughout the country. The sport is governed by the Football Association of Albania (Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit).
The first recorded match was between students at a Christian mission in Shkodër. Other towns and cities followed suit and on 6 June 1930 the Football Association of Albania was established. The association became a member of football's governing body FIFA in 1932, and joined the European governing body UEFA in 1954 as a founding member.
Albania was the winner of the 1946 Balkan Cup and the 2000 Malta International Tournament. At the UEFA Euro 1964 in Spain, Albania made its first-ever appearance at a major men's football tournament were they reached despite not qualifying the Round of 16. Albania's highest FIFA World Ranking for men was 22nd, in August 2015. Albania qualified for the UEFA Euro 2016 in France. Playing in the Groupstage in Group A against France, Switzerland and Romania.
The youth teams of Albania got a rich history in football as the Albania national under-21 football team won twice the Balkan Youth Championship in 1978 and 1981 and they also qualify once at the 1984 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, losing in the Quarterfinals against Italy.
One of the most successful Albanian Football Managers in the history of the Country is Shyqyri Rreli. His main success came for the Albania national under-21 football team, in which he led them to two straight titles of the Balkan Youth Championship (in 1978 and 1981) and to the quarter finals of the Euro 1984, where Albania's Under 21 side was among the best 8 European teams. He also led Tirana to the best 16 clubs in three European competitions 1986–87 European Cup Winners' Cup, 1988–89 European Cup, and 1989–90 European Cup. He also will be remembered for getting Albania close to qualifying in the Mexico 1986 campaign, most notably through a victory against Belgium and draws against Poland and Greece finishing third the best result for Albania in twenty years.
The Albania national under-17 football team is hosting the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. Playing in Group A against France, Germany and Portugal. Taking place for the second time in their history in the U17 category. Albania would lose all three matches during their campaign.
Pre war history of Albania
Founded on 6 June 1930, Albania had to wait 16 years to play its first international match, which was against Yugoslavia in 1946. In 1932, Albania had already joined FIFA (during the congress 12–16 June) and in 1954 it was one of the founding members of UEFA. Albania was invited to play in the 1938 World Cup, but did not take part due to logistical problems.
1946: Champion of the Balkans
The early years oversaw a notably successful Balkan Cup in the 1946 campaign. Albania won the cup after overcoming Yugoslavia on level points but a better goal difference. The final match ended in a 1–0 win against Romania. Four days earlier, Albania had already beaten Bulgaria 3–1. Albania was not expected to participate, but the withdrawal of Greece from the tournament offered Albania a chance to join in the re-established post-war cup.
1964: Among the best 16 teams of Europe
Albania waited until 1962 to compete in a Euro Cup competition and the only time Albania was between the best 16 teams of the Continent, the reason being Albania got past the first leg as Greece, for political reasons forfeited the game. Albania beat Denmark in the second leg in the round of 16 thanks to an early goal from Panajot Pano. Despite that win Albanian could not progress further as they lost the first leg with 4–0 away from home. At the end of the tournament Albania ranked 9th in Europe.
1964-1972: Qualification for Tokyo and Munich at the Summer Olympics
Albania participated for the first time in football at the 1964 Summer Olympics in the men's qualification tournament. They faced Bulgaria in the preliminary round, losing both matches, in close games, in the process. They participated for the second and last time ever at the 1972 Summer Olympics in which they faced Romania at the Men's European Qualifiers in the playoffs. Albania lost both matches close with 2–1 away despite an equalizer of Medin Zhega in the first leg. They would lose once again with 1–2 in the second leg despite a leading goal from Panajot Pano. So far their last time participing for any Olympic Games in Football.
1986: Near-qualification for the World Cup in Mexico
In the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification Albania faced Belgium, Poland and their rivals Greece. Despite their first loss away from home against Belgium, 3–1, despite an equalizer from Bedri Omuri. Albania could draw against Poland away with 2-2 scoring their first point. After that, Albania famously beat Belgium, at home, 2–0 in the Qemal Stafa Stadium. The goals were scored by Mirel Josa and Arben Minga securing Albania their first and only win in this qualification. It was their most successful FIFA World Cup qualification, finishing third above Greece but behind Belgium and Poland in the process.
2014–2016: Success at the European Championship
Albania qualified for UEFA Euro 2016, its first appearance at a major men's football tournament after 50 years. This earned the team the Honor of Nation Order from Albania's President Bujar Nishani. The national team of Albania was given awards of honor and city recognition by the cities of Tirana, Vlore, Kamëz, and Bajram Curri.
Albania started the qualifiers of the UEFA Euro 2016 with an emphatic 1–0 away win against Portugal, which was followed by a 1–1 draw against Denmark at the newly renovated stadium Elbasan Arena. Then they were awarded a 3–0 victory over Serbia in Belgrade. After beating Armenia 3–0 in the last qualifying match, Albania made history by qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2016, its first appearance at a major men's football tournament after 50 years and Albania's first-ever appearance at a competitive tournament in the history. In the tournament itself, Albania lost 0–1 to Switzerland and 0–2 to hosts France. While they beat Romania 1–0 (their first win against Romania since 1947), the team finished last among the third-placed teams and did not progress beyond the group stage.
2021–2023: From an unlucky FIFA World Cup 2022 campaign to UEFA Euro 2024 qualification
After their close miss to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in which Albania finished third in the group, in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group E Albania were drawn together with Czech Republic, Poland, Faroe Islands and Moldova. In the following matches Albania was undefeated, and secured the qualification for the second time in history for the UEFA European Championship at the UEFA Euro 2024. Albania finished the qualifications in the first place with 15 points for the first time in their history. They secured the second pot for the UEFA group stage draws after ranking 10th in the power rankings.
UEFA Euros 2024
On 17 November 2023, Albania qualified for UEFA Euro 2024, their second major tournament. They were drawn in Group B, which is considered the group of death by many fans, containing three-time Euro winners Spain, two-time Euro winners and defending champions Italy, as well as Croatia, which came third in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Kategoria Superiore
The Kategoria Superiore is the main division in Albania; their first season started in 1930. Apart from 1938 to 1944 it took place every season. The club with the most titles is KF Tirana who won this competition 25 times. The Albanian Football Cup was founded since 1938-39 in which KF Tirana being the most successful club in the country with 16 titles closely followed by Partizani Tirana who won this competition 15 times so far.
The Albanian league sides enjoyed success also in European football competitions. KF Skënderbeu Korçë qualify twice for the UEFA Europa League first in 2015-16 and for the second time in 2017-18, as they qualify as the first Albanian football club after four qualifying rounds to the groupstage. Partizani Tirana won the one and only international club title for Albania as they won the 1970 Balkans Cup against Beroe Stara Zagora in the finals.
KF Tirana qualified three times in the round of sixteen in the European Cup first in 1982-83 defeating Linfield in the first round. They achieved the same results in 1988-89 by defeating this time in the first round Ħamrun Spartans from Malta after two legs. They faced in the round of 16 the Swedish league side IFK Göteborg but lost both matches after two legs were played. In the following year in 1989-90 KF Tirana once more qualified for the best 16 of Europe as they defeated this time another Maltese side in Siliema Wanderers after two legs in the first round. Their highest win at this competition came in the second leg at home defeating the Wanderers with 5–0. They faced in the next round Bundesliga side FC Bayern Munich. They could not go through to the quarterfinals as they lost both legs.
In the UEFA Cup Flamutari Vlora is the most successful club for Albania. As they did compete for the first time in 1986-87 against FC Barcelona in the first round drawing both matches and nearly qualified for the next stage, at this competition. Losing out on the away rule. At the following season in 1987-88 they achieved their greatest result so far. They qualified for the first time at the round of sixteen, defeating surprisingly the Yugoslav side Partizan Belgrad with 2–0 at home and qualified for the second round after a 1–2 defeat in which Sokol Kushta scored a famous goal for his club side. In the following round Flamutari Vlora defeated then East German side Wismut Aue after two legs, winning at home with 2–0. They faced Barcelona for the second time in a row in which they lost the first leg in Camp Nou with 4-1 but beat the Spanish side in the following leg with 1–0 by a goal from Kushta, to secure the most famous win for Albania in a UEFA club competition.
Women's football
The women's national team was formed in 2011. The women's highest FIFA World Ranking was 40th in April 2015. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 was the first time Albania entered a senior competitive tournament.
The Albanian Women's National Championship started its first championship since 2009. Vllaznia Shkodër is the most successful club at this competition, as they won so far nine league titles, in which also nine times in a row, between 2013–14 and most recently in 2021-22. They also do compete in Europe, since their debut in the 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League.