Kosovo national football team
The Kosovo national football team represents Kosovo in international men's football. It is controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo.
History
Pre-independence
First ever match
On 29 November 1942, Kosovo for first time in its history played a friendly match as part of the celebrations for 30th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania against Tirana and the match ended with a 2–0 away defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Mustafa Daci, Ballanca, Ahmet Zaimi, Mazllum Xërxa, Veseli, Hajdar Hamza, Nebil Dylatahu, Ramadan Vraniqi, Dobrica Barbaroga, Bajrami and Henci.Yugoslav era
On 8 November 1967, Kosovo for first time as autonomous province of SFR Yugoslavia played a friendly match against Yugoslavia and the match ended with a 3–3 home draw and the starting line-up of that match was a mix between Albanian and Serbian players as Milosavlević, Stevanović, Mušikić, Abrashi, S. Džukić, V. Džukić, Brovina, Hatibi, Radović, Prekazi and Pindović, for Yugoslavia this match it was a pre-preparation before the UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying match against Albania. After the match against Yugoslavia, Kosovo in 1975 participated in the Brotherhood and Unity Tournament, which was held in Pristina and Prizren, where won in all four matches of this tournament against Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Macedonia and also took first place.As part of Yugoslavia national team
Yugoslav squads at international competitions often included players from Kosovo, such as Fadil Vokrri and Stevan Stojanović. Three other footballers from Kosovo, Fahrudin Jusufi, Milutin Šoškić and Vladimir Durković, were part of the Yugoslav team that won the gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics and silver medal at the 1960 European Nations' Cup.After breakup of Yugoslavia
On 20 January 1993, The Football Federation of Kosovo signed a cooperation protocol with the Albanian Football Association and in the framework of this protocol it was decided to play on 14 February a friendly match between Albania and Kosovo, which was the first match of Kosovo following the breakup of Yugoslavia, and this match ended with a 1–3 defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Ahmet Beselica, Ardian Kozniku, Bardhec Seferi, Fadil Berisha, Gani Llapashtica, Genc Hoxha, Isa Sadriu, Kushtrim Munishi, Muharrem Sahiti, Sadullah Ajeti and Selajdin Jerliu.After Kosovo War
On 7 September 2002, Kosovo for first time after the Kosovo War played a friendly match against Albania and the match ended with a 0–1 home minimal defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Ahmet Beselica, Ardian Kozniku, Arsim Abazi, Besnik Kollari, Fadil Ademi, Faruk Statovci, Ismet Munishi, Mehmet Dragusha, Sunaj Keqi, Xhevdet Llumnica and Zenun Selimi.One of the most important international matches was a 1–0 win over Saudi Arabia played on 15 June 2007. It was the first time that Kosovo played against a team that has taken part in the FIFA World Cup and the winning goal was scored by Kristian Nushi from the penalty kick on the 84th minute. On 22 April 2006, Kosovo achieved their biggest win, defeating Monaco 7–1. If one included matches played before Kosovo became a FIFA member, this scoreline is their best result yet.
After independence
First match
On 17 February 2010, for the first time since the declaration of independence Kosovo played a friendly match against Albania and the match ended with a 2–3 home defeat. The starting line-up of that match was Anel Rashkaj, Dukagjin Gashi, Enis Zabërgja, Fisnik Papuçi, Ilir Nallbani, Kushtrim Mushica, Liridon Kukaj, Robert Gjeraj, Shpëtim Hasani and Yll Hoxha. This match had a charity character due the profits gathered from this meeting went to those affected by floods in Shkodër.Efforts for internationalization
On 6 May 2008, after the declaration of independence from Serbia, Kosovo applied for FIFA membership. On 24 October 2008, Kosovo's application was discussed at the FIFA Congress in Zürich, when Kosovo was rejected membership in FIFA and could not play friendly matches as it was deemed it did not comply with article 10 of the FIFA statutes, that only "an independent state recognised by the international community" may be admitted into FIFA. On 22 May 2012. FIFA reversed that decision stating that Kosovo may play other countries in international friendlies according to Article 79 of the FIFA Statutes.In September 2012, Albania international Lorik Cana, along with Swiss internationals Granit Xhaka, Valon Behrami and Xherdan Shaqiri, all of them with Kosovo Albanian origin, wrote a declaration to FIFA President Sepp Blatter, asking him to allow the Kosovo national team to be allowed to play friendly matches. The declaration was also signed by eight other Albanian footballers, hailing from Kosovo as Ahmed Januzi, Alban Meha, Armend Dallku, Burim Kukeli, Etrit Berisha, Fatmire Bajramaj, Lorik Cana, Mërgim Mavraj and Samir Ujkani. In May 2012. In a meeting held, FIFA decided to allow friendly matches to be played a decision it later revoked following a protest issued by Football Association of Serbia. Some players, especially Kosovo Serbs as Milan Biševac and Miloš Krasić, continued to play for the Serbia. A new meeting was held at FIFA, on 27 and 28 September in which the Kosovo issue was again planned to be discussed, which was then postponed until December.
Permitting by FIFA to play friendlies
On 13 January 2014, the national team was given permission by FIFA to play against FIFA member associations in international friendlies, with the notable exception of representative teams of countries of the former Yugoslavia. Even club teams would be allowed to play friendlies after a FIFA Emergency Committee meeting. However, it was stipulated that clubs and representative teams of the Football Federation of Kosovo may not display national symbols as flags, emblems, etc. or play national anthems. The go-ahead was given after meetings between the Football Association of Serbia and Sepp Blatter. On 6 February 2013, FIFA gave the permission to play international friendly games against other member associations.On 5 March 2014, following FIFA's ruling. Kosovo played its first international friendly against Haiti and the match ended in a 0–0 draw. Before the match, some players of Kosovo posed with guns at a shooting range, causing a stir in Serbia. On the eve of the match, supporters of Kosovo burned the flag of Serbia. This incident prompted the Football Association of Serbia to request that FIFA revoke Kosovo's right to play international friendlies.
After the match against Haiti, five more games were held with Turkey, Senegal, Oman, Equatorial Guinea and in the end with Albania. The first win in these friendlies was against Oman with a 1–0 home minimal win, while the biggest defeat that was simultaneously also the first defeat was a 1–6 home defeat against Turkey that was playing with players that were the majority from Turkish championship.
Membership in UEFA and FIFA
In September 2015 at an UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Malta was approved the request from the federation to the admission in UEFA to the next Ordinary Congress to be held in Budapest. On 3 May 2016, at the Ordinary Congress. Kosovo were accepted into UEFA after members voted 28–24 in favor of Kosovo.On 13 May 2016, Kosovo was accepted in FIFA during their 66th congress in Mexico with 141 votes in favour and 23 against.
FIFA ranking history
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 the 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 the FIFA World Cup qualifications with a 1–1 away draw against Finland, with Kosovo's equalizing goal being scored by the newcomer Valon Berisha from a penalty-kick in the 60th minute.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, England and Montenegro. 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 ever qualifying match for a major tournament by defeating Bulgaria 3–2.UEFA Nations League
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 and will be promoted to the next tier for the next edition.Non-FIFA Tournament
Kosovo has so far participated in two international tournaments for first time was 1975, when Kosovo participated in the Brotherhood and Unity Tournament as host, Kosovo won in all four matches of this tournament against Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia and Macedonia and also took first place.Thirty years after, Kosovo again 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.
| Year | Round | Squad | |||||||
 Brotherhood and Unity Tournament | Winner | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
 KTFF 50th Anniversary Cup | Runners-up | 2nd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | Squad |
| Total | Best: Winner | 2/2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 3 | — |
Fixtures and results
2019
2020
Players
Current squad
The following players were called up for the friendly match against, on 12 January 2020.All caps and goals as of 12 January 2020 after the match against.
Recent call-ups
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.;Notes
- INJ = Not part of the [|current squad] due to injury.
- U21 = Was called up from national U21 squad.
Personnel
Current technical staff
Kit suppliers
The Kosovo kit has been mostly red and black before declaration of independence with few changes throughout the years and after the independence the kits are mostly blue and yellow. On 5 October 2016, Kosovo signed with Spanish sportswear company Kelme to a four-year contract and was the first official kit suppliers of Kosovo after membership in UEFA and FIFA. On 16 June 2018, Kosovo signed with Swiss sportswear company Fourteen to a four-year contract and becomes the current kit suppliers of Kosovo.| Kit provider | Period | In matches against |
 Legea | 2014 | |
 Puma | 2014 | and |
| Legea | 2014 | |
 Umbro | 2015 | and |
| Puma | 2016 | |
 Kelme | 2016–2018 | style="text-align:center;" rowspan="2" |
 Fourteen | 2018–present | - |
Stadiums
On 12 July 2019, it was announced that a stadium will be built with a capacity of 30,000 seats.Records
Below are two lists of the top 11 players with the most caps and goals for Kosovo.Players in bold are still active at international level.
Most capped players
| Rank | Position | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | DF | ' | 2014– | 29 | 5 |
| 2 | MF | ' | 2016– | 27 | 4 |
| 3 | GK | ' | 2014– | 26 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ' | 2017– | 24 | 1 |
| 5 | FW | ' | 2016– | 23 | 8 |
| 5 | MF | ' | 2015– | 23 | 1 |
| 7 | DF | ' | 2017– | 21 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ' | 2016– | 20 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | ' | 2014– | 20 | 2 |
| 10 | DF | ' | 2014– | 19 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | 2015– | 19 | 0 |
Top goalscorers
| Rank | Position | Name | Career | Goals | Caps | Average |
| 1 | FW | ' | 2016– | 8 | 23 | |
| 2 | MF | ' | 2016– | 7 | 18 | |
| 3 | DF | ' | 2014– | 5 | 29 | |
| 4 | MF | ' | 2016– | 4 | 27 | |
| 4 | FW | ' | 2015– | 4 | 12 | |
| 6 | MF | ' | 2016– | 3 | 20 | |
| 6 | FW | ' | 2017– | 3 | 17 | |
| 6 | MF | ' | 2016– | 3 | 16 | |
| 6 | FW | 2014–2016 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 10 | MF | ' | 2014– | 2 | 20 | |
| 10 | MF | ' | 2018– | 2 | 17 |