FIFA.com – Kosovo today celebrates its 10th anniversary as a FIFA member federation. Along with Gibraltar, Kosovo remains one of the last countries to be accepted by world football's governing body.
A decade later, the growth of Kosovo football has been remarkable, reflected in the continued progress in the FIFA world rankings for both men and women. And the upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down.
The representative football team made the biggest increase during 2025 and recently climbed two places to reach 78th place, which is its highest ranking ever.
The women's national football team, ranked 80th, recently climbed 11 places, also reaching its highest ranking in the last update in April.
"All this is the result of hard work and dedication from all those who represent our country - from President Agim Ademi, to the coaching staff led by Franco Foda, to our players and fans, the 'Dardans', who are the biggest supporters of motivation and patriotism," Kosovo defender Dion Gallapeni told FIFA.
At 21 years old, Gallapeni perfectly showcases Kosovo's process and the emerging talent in the country.
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Unlike many of his national team mates, who grew up abroad, Gallapeni was born, raised and developed in Kosovo.
After taking his first steps at the "Winner Prizren" football school, he joined the club with the most trophies in Kosovo, Prishtina, in 2023, before moving abroad for the first time, joining the Polish club, Widzew Lodz and then Wisla Plock.
“I can proudly say that I know the Kosovo league very well, because I played there until 2025. The level has always been good and has continued to improve since we became members of UEFA and FIFA,” he explained. “The country’s league has made considerable progress, especially through major improvements in infrastructure and a continuous increase in the quality of the game. Today, many players developed in Kosovo are playing in the biggest leagues in Europe – and I am one of them.”
FIFA has played a significant role in Kosovo's progress. Through the "FIFA Forward" program, $4.613 million was allocated to support the introduction of the VAR system in the Kosovo Super League, to finance the construction of six artificial pitches for clubs, and to contribute to the modernization of the stadium in Hajvali, which is now integrated into the national technical center of the Football Federation of Kosovo.
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FIFA’s “Talent Development” program has also supported the federation, including a $50 grant to organize a U15 girls’ competition in 2024, as part of a broader strategy to increase opportunities for girls in football. That same year, the “Football for Schools” program was launched in Kosovo.
“Football is booming in Kosovo. FIFA’s support through its programs has clearly contributed to improving infrastructure, developing education and creating more opportunities for children and young people, both girls and boys,” continued Gallapeni. “Today, everyone in Kosovo has the opportunity to play. A good example is amputee football, which has developed significantly in the country. Everyone in our sport is treated equally, regardless of gender or ability. We say, ‘the heart is more important than the body,’ and here we play with our hearts.”
Fueled by the passion of an entire country, Kosovo also came close to a historic achievement. The “Dardans” narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, losing to Turkey in the play-off final. However, given the determination shown by the team and the rate of progress Kosovo has made in just 10 years, a first World Cup qualification now seems less a dream than a matter of time.
