Friday's list, Kosovo missing some out-of-form players

After five consecutive victories, two friendlies and three Nations League matches, the Kosovo national football team will gather for the first qualifying matches of the 2026 World Cup this weekend.

Kosovo will hold its first qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada on September 5 and 8. 

Positive results against Switzerland and Sweden would allow them to keep the dream of qualifying for next year's World Cup alive.

Kosovo plays the match against Switzerland in Basel, while it plays against Sweden in Pristina.

The list of players for the first two qualifying matches will be published by coach Franco Foda on Friday, KOHA has learned.

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The list will not include Altach's Austrian midfielder Vesel Demaku. He underwent surgery on Monday after suffering a collarbone injury on Sunday in a match in the Austrian elite championship.

Demaku was one of the best in this edition's matches at Altachu and also stood out in Kosovo. He was highly praised for his performances against Iceland in March and also in the friendly against Armenia in June.

Foda will not be able to count on the services of the 25-year-old midfielder, who before joining Kosovo played for Austria's youth teams.

"This morning I completed the operation and I will not be able to play for 2-3 months. This injury came at a time when the team and I were doing very well. But what can I do, this is football. I believe I will come back even stronger," Demaku told KOHĪN on Monday.

Demaku's absence won't be the only concern for Fodan. The selector is expected to include some players who are not in good form, or who have not had any playing time at all, in the list. But, of course, there will also be players in form who are expected to carry the burden.

Edon Zhegrova is expected to return to Kosovo after a long break. Zhegrova has not played since December of last year. He was invited to Lille for the match against Monaco on Sunday. But he did not play at all. He is awaiting a transfer.

The future in question

Kosovo's first goalkeeper, Aro Muriq, is also missing appearances, while second goalkeeper, Amir Shaipi, is not in good form. Third goalkeeper Visar Bekaj is playing for Hatayspor in the Turkish Second Division.

Lumbardh Dellova has requested a departure from CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria, while left-back Leart Pacharada has no place at Bundesliga club Cologne.

Paçarada is not part of Cologne's plans and is expected to leave soon.

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Midfielder Lindon Emërllahu has returned late from a muscle injury. He has not played a match for Romanian team Cluj in a while.

Elvis Rexhbeçaj came on as a substitute for Augsburg at the weekend. Rexhbeçaj, as reported in German media, also missed Augsburg's 17th August German Cup match due to a knee problem.

Donat Rrudhani has not played a single match this season. He has returned to Young Boys from Lucerne where he was on loan last season. Rrudhani is also important in Kosovo.

Strikers in form

Kosovo's first striker, Vedat Muriqi, did not start the new season well either. In the opening match of the La Liga edition, Muriqi was sent off with a red card. This is the match that Mallorca played against Barcelona.

The 31-year-old was sent off for a harsh tackle on Barcelona's goalkeeper in Mallorca's 3-0 defeat on August 16.

Muriqi is arguably Kosovo's most effective player. He is expected to lead the attack in the matches against Switzerland and Sweden, although forwards Albion Rrahmani, Meriton Korenica, Milot Rashica, Fisnik Asllani and Baton Zabërgja are in good form. However, Muriqi plays at a significantly higher level than the other Kosovo forwards.

Zabërgja recently made his debut for Ukraine's Metalist, before transferring from Dinamo City of Tirana, while Fisnik Asllani scored and assisted in Hoffenheim's victory in the Bundesliga at the weekend.

Meriton Korencia of Romanian Cluj is also scoring goals, as is Rrahmani of Sparta Prague.

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But Sparta are not counting on Ermal Krasniqi. He is expected to leave the Czech club soon.

Other players will also be part of Kosovo for the September matches. Ron Raçi is expected to be one of them. He has been a stable defender for the big Croatian club, Hajduk Split. For his performances in Croatia, center back Raçi has received praise from the coach, teammates and the Croatian media.