The highly anticipated World Cup qualifying match between Kosovo and Switzerland is set to take place on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in Pristina. The stakes are high as Switzerland looks to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup, while Kosovo aims to pull off an upset and secure automatic qualification.
How to Watch:
For fans in the United States, the match kicks off at 2:45 pm ET or 11:45 am PT. Details regarding TV channels and live streaming options can be found on GOAL.
Context and Preview:
Switzerland currently leads Group B with a three-point lead over Kosovo. Furthermore, Switzerland holds a significant advantage in goal difference, with +12 compared to Kosovo's +1. This means that Kosovo would need to win by at least six goals to overtake Switzerland and secure automatic qualification. Switzerland needs to avoid a 6 goal defeat to clinch the top spot.
Kosovo has exceeded expectations in the qualifying campaign, securing second place in Group B. They have demonstrated their quality by winning three of their five qualifying fixtures. Kosovo beat Slovenia 2-0 in their last game.
Switzerland has been dominant throughout the qualifying campaign, remaining unbeaten in Group B. They have won four and drawn one of their five matches, including a 4-1 victory over Sweden. Switzerland won the reverse fixture against Kosovo 4-0.
Team News and Key Players:
Kosovo has a full-strength squad available for the match. Key players for Kosovo include Vedat Muriqi, who has scored 4 goals in the qualifiers, and Fisnik Asllani and Elvis Rexhbecaj, who have each scored 2 goals. Switzerland is expected to field a strong defensive unit, including Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Silvan Widmer, and Ricardo Rodriguez. Granit Xhaka is set to control the midfield, while Dan Ndoye, Breel Embolo, and Ruben Vargas are expected to lead the attack.
Prediction and Analysis:
Switzerland is considered the favorite to win the match. However, Kosovo has proven to be a difficult opponent, and a draw is also a possibility. A low-scoring game is expected, with under 2.5 goals being a likely outcome.
Historical Head-to-Head:
Switzerland has not lost to Kosovo in their previous three meetings. In their last encounter, Switzerland won 4-0 at home. The previous three head-to-head games have featured two draws and one Switzerland victory. Switzerland has won 1, and there have been 3 draws in the 4 prior H2Hs.
Concluding thoughts:
While Kosovo has a theoretical chance to win the group, Switzerland is in a comfortable position and only needs to avoid a significant defeat. The match is expected to be closely contested, but Switzerland's experience and quality should see them secure the point they need to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
