Match Overview

The 7th round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament between the national teams of Serbia and Albania is scheduled for October 11 at the Dubočica Stadium in Leskovac. This article provides a comprehensive prediction, betting odds, and statistical analysis for the Serbia vs Albania encounter.

Serbia Team Analysis

Dragan Stojković’s squad suffered a disappointing 0-5 home defeat to England in the previous round. This result effectively settled all questions regarding the winner of Group K. The Serbians are now 8 points behind the group leader, although they do have a game in hand. Prior to this match, the Balkan nation had an impressive 12-game unbeaten run in World Cup qualifiers, securing 9 victories and 3 draws.

Serbia Key Statistics

• At least one team failed to score in 4 of Serbia’s last matches in this tournament.
• Before their loss to England, Serbia had an unbeaten streak of 13 home matches in World Cup qualification (9 wins and 4 draws).
• The national team has scored at least two goals in 5 of their last 6 home qualification games for the World Cup.

Serbia Expected Lineup (3-5-2)

Đorđe Petrović – Strahinja Pavlović, Miloš Veljković, Strahinja Eraković – Filip Kostić, Nemanja Maksimović, Nemanja Gudelj, Lazar Samardžić, Andrija Živković – Luka Jović, Dušan Vlahović.

Goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić is out due to injury. Midfielder Saša Lukić and defender Nikola Milenković are unavailable due to suspension.

Albania Team Analysis

Similar to their regional neighbors, the Albanians have also recorded only one defeat in their campaign so far, which also came against England (0-2). This loss occurred in the first matchday, after which Silvinho’s side remained undefeated in the World Cup qualifying cycle. The team secured victories against Andorra (3-0) and Latvia (1-0), and also shared points with Serbia (0-0) and Latvia (1-1). Albania currently sits second in the group, holding a one-point lead over Serbia, who have played one fewer match.

Albania Key Statistics

• At least one team failed to score in 10 of Albania’s last 11 World Cup qualification matches.
• No more than two goals were scored in 7 of Albania’s last 9 World Cup qualification encounters.
• The national team has failed to win 4 of its last 5 away matches in this tournament (1 draw and 3 losses).

Albania Expected Lineup (4-3-3)

Thomas Strakosha – Ivan Balliu, Elseid Hysaj, Arlind Ajeti, Mario Mitaj – Qazim Laçi, Ylber Ramadani, Kristjan Asllani – Arbër Hoxha, Rey Manaj, Armando Broja.

Defender Ardian Ismajli and midfielder Adrion Pajaziti are sidelined due to injuries.

Match Official

István Kovács (Romania)

Referee Statistics (International Matches, 2024–2025)

Matches – 18;

Yellow cards shown (including second yellow) – 65;

Average yellow cards per match – 3.6;

Red cards shown – 4;

Average fouls per match – 23;

Penalties awarded – 22%.

Serbia vs Albania Match Prediction

In the first leg of the current World Cup qualification group stage, these opponents played out a rather uneventful 0-0 draw. Nevertheless, the rivalry between these two teams is intense, and both sides are determined to defeat their opponent at all costs. A victory in this match would significantly boost their chances of securing second place in the group, and I believe the home side, Serbia, is better positioned to achieve it.

The Serbians are very strong at home, having secured 6 victories in their last 8 World Cup qualification matches. Their only failures to win came against top-tier teams like England and Portugal. In contrast, in their last 9 away matches in this tournament, Albania has only managed to defeat Hungary, San Marino, and Andorra. Among these, only Hungary can be considered a respectable opponent (with Albania also recording 2 draws and 4 losses by two or more goals).

My prediction is a “Serbia Win” with odds of 1.75