What if Yugoslavia still existed?
This is the question asked by the site covering football events "NextMex" on X on Wednesday.
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Letter to the Reader — Why We're Asking for Your Support Contribute"NetMex" has published a photo of what the formation of the former federal state could look like in the year the World Cup is held. In the starting eleven, "NextMex" has included Kosovo captain Amir Rrahmani in the center of defense, and Edon Zhegrova on the right wing of the midfield.
"A combined Yugoslav team would be full of talent at every position, world-class quality and depth. But the real question is… Would they be strong enough to compete for a World Cup? Honestly… not only would it compete, but it could easily be one of the main contenders. What do you think?", this site writes.
Jan Oblak of Slovenia is included in the goal, while together with Rrahman in defense Josip Stanisic of Croatia, Strahinja Pavlovic of Serbia, Joshko Guardiola of Croatia. In the midfield are also Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric of Croatia and Elif Elmas. The attacking duo: Benjamin Sesko of Slovenia and Dusan Vlahovic of Serbia.
The "NextMex" team did not include Vedat Muriqi from Kosovo, nor any players from Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro.
The selection of the Bosnia and Herzegovina team without players, which will appear in the 2026 World Cup, has sparked numerous reactions.
Albanians have in fact been constantly discriminated against in football, in the former federal state.