The Football Federation of Kosovo has seen its application to join UEFA approved by the European football governing body.
Kosovo is recognised by more than 100 countries but is not a UN member, and its national football team has only played in non-FIFA or non-UEFA competitions.
This has meant a number of footballers of Kosovar extraction, such as Belgium's Adnan Januzaj and Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, have opted to play international football for other countries.
The last new UEFA member, Gibraltar, has just embarked on its first European Championships qualification campaign.
Kosovo have played friendlies against recognised international teams, most recently a 2-2 draw with Albania during which Manchester City youngster Bersant Celina was on the scoresheet, and will hope to be involved in qualification for Euro 2020.
Feisty from Heimir. Heimir Hallgrimsson announced his Ireland squad earlier today, ahead of next week’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia. There were four uncapped players named – Harvey Vale, James Abankwah, Bosun Lawal, Josh Keeley – with Lawal in with a good shot of getting a debut, following an injury to midfielder Josh Cullen. […]
Fans are puzzled. Heimir Hallgrimsson has announced his Ireland squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia next Thursday. There was even more big news, with the manager revealing at the end of the press conference that he has signed a new contract until the end of the Euro 2028 campaign. Hallgrimsson stated that […]
A huge occasion. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has named his squad for his side’s crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia next Thursday (kick-off, 7.45pm). The winner of the tie will face the winner of Denmark vs North Macedonia on Tuesday, 31 March. QPR attacking midfielder and former England U20s star, Harvey Vale, has been […]