The highly anticipated World Cup 2026 qualifying Group K match between Serbia and England is set to take place in Belgrade on September 9, 2025. Football fans around the globe are eager to witness this clash between two strong teams with aspirations of securing a spot in the upcoming World Cup.
England currently leads Group K with a perfect record of four wins from four matches. However, their performances have been described as lacking spark, with a recent 2-0 victory over Andorra. Despite the efficient results, coach Thomas Tuchel is looking for his team to elevate their game as they face a tougher challenge in Serbia. A win in Belgrade would put Tuchel in the company of Fabio Capello, Ron Greenwood and Sven-Göran Eriksson, as the only managers to begin their England careers with five consecutive competitive wins.
Serbia is currently in second place in Group K, having accumulated seven points from three matches. Their campaign includes a goalless draw against Albania, a 3-0 victory over Andorra, and a narrow 1-0 win against Latvia. Serbia's strength lies in its potent strike force, with Aleksandar Mitrovic, the nation's all-time leading scorer, expected to partner with Dusan Vlahovic in a formidable attacking duo.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:45 p.m. CEST local time, which translates to 7:45 p.m. BST in the UK and 2:45 p.m. ET in the US and Canada. Australian viewers can catch the game at 4:45 a.m. AEST on Wednesday morning.
Team news reveals that Dragan Stojkovic, the Serbian coach, has made four changes to the team that defeated Latvia. Kosta Nedeljkovic, Nemanja Maksimovic, Veljko Birmancevic, and Strahinja Erakovic will replace Aleksandar Katai, Filip Kostic, Milos Veljkovic, and Luka Jovic. Thomas Tuchel has also made four changes to the England side, with Ezri Konsa, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers replacing Dan Burn, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Marcus Rashford and Eberechi Eze.
The game will be broadcast live on ITV1 in the UK, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. BST. In the US, the match will be available on Fubo Sports Network.
One of the main storylines of the match is the anticipated battle between star strikers Dusan Vlahovic and Harry Kane. Kane, England's captain and all-time leading scorer, is set to earn his 109th cap, surpassing the legendary Sir Bobby Moore. Vlahovic, on the other hand, has become Serbia's key player in attack.
The atmosphere at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, also known as Red Star Stadium, is expected to be intense, with England captain Harry Kane listing it as one of the most intimidating away venues he has played in.
