Sweden’s bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a major blow as they fell to a shocking 2-0 defeat against Kosovo in Pristina. This marks Kosovo’s first-ever home win in a World Cup qualifier, a historic result that was achieved despite the team finishing the match with 10 men.
Sweden, who had won all three previous head-to-head matches against Kosovo, entered the game as heavy favorites. They started by dominating possession, but it was Kosovo who created the better chances on the counter-attack. The hosts went close to scoring after just 10 minutes when Albion Rrahmani broke through but couldn’t find the target.
The pressure eventually paid off for Kosovo. In the 34th minute, a long ball sent Elvis Rexhbecaj racing toward the goal. Although his initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Robin Olsen, he was quick to react and scored on the rebound. The home side doubled their lead just before halftime when Vedat Muriqi latched onto a pass from Rrahmani and fired his shot past Olsen.
Despite making changes in the second half, including the introduction of Alexander Isak, Sweden struggled to break down a well-organized Kosovo defense. The hosts remained a threat on the counter, with Florent Muslija almost adding a third goal. Although Lindon Emerllahu was sent off with a second yellow card late in the game, Sweden was unable to capitalize.
The damaging defeat means that Sweden now has only one point from their first two matches, leaving them five points behind group leaders Switzerland. Meanwhile, this crucial victory moves Kosovo into second place in Group B, putting them in a strong position as they continue their qualification campaign.
