Kosovo aiming for historic World Cup qualification in play-off against Turkey Kosovo are unbeaten in their past six matches in World Cup qualification. The Balkan nation, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and was officially recognized by Fifa and Uefa in 2016, hosts Turkey in Tuesday's play-off. A win would secure their place in the 48-nation World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The match will take place at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, a venue with a capacity of less than 14,000. Coach Franco Foda described the stadium as inadequate, noting that if possible, 100,000 spectators would be present. Kosovo’s journey to the play-off has been marked by resilience. After a 4-0 loss to Switzerland in their first World Cup qualifier in 2016, the team remained unbeaten in their other five group matches. They secured home and away victories over Sweden, drew with Slovenia, and managed a draw with Switzerland to advance to the play-offs. Their semi-final victory over Slovakia, a 4-3 win in Bratislava, was hailed as a turning point. Foda emphasized the need for composure in the final match, warning against overconfidence. "We have emotional fans, but we must be careful and not allow ourselves to make mistakes," he said. Turkey, ranked 23rd in the world, are 55 places above Kosovo in the rankings. The Turkish team, which has not qualified for the World Cup since 2002, faces a formidable challenge. Despite their higher ranking, Kosovo has a history of upsetting odds. After their initial defeat to Switzerland, they improved significantly, leveraging their ability to call up players from other European nations, including Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden. The play-off final will determine Kosovo’s fate.#turkey #kosovo #franco_foda #fadil_vokrri_stadium #pristina
