Match Overview

The fifth-round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament between the national teams of Switzerland and Kosovo is set to take place on September 5th at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. This preview offers a detailed analysis, odds, and statistics for the Switzerland vs. Kosovo clash.

Switzerland Team Analysis

Switzerland’s Qualification Performance

Switzerland showcased a strong performance in their previous qualifying campaign, remaining undefeated throughout (5 wins, 3 draws) and ultimately securing first place in Group C. They also led the group in goals scored with 15. In the World Cup finals, Switzerland advanced to the playoffs from the second spot, though their knockout stage journey ended with a decisive loss to Portugal in their opening match. Remarkably, heading into the current qualifiers, the Swiss boast an impressive 10-match unbeaten streak.

• Switzerland scored the opening goal in 6 of their last 8 World Cup qualification matches.
• At home, the Swiss have triumphed in 9 of their last 11 World Cup qualifiers (with 2 draws).
• The national team has kept a clean sheet in their last 5 home World Cup qualification matches.

Predicted Switzerland Starting XI (4-4-2)

Key Players for Switzerland

Gregor Kobel – Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Silvan Widmer, Ricardo Rodriguez – Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, Denis Zakaria, Michel Aebischer – Breel Embolo, Ruben Vargas.

Kosovo Team Analysis

Kosovo’s Recent Qualification Struggles

Kosovo delivered a significantly underwhelming performance in their previous qualification cycle. With just one victory (2 draws, 5 losses), the team finished at the bottom of Group B. They also registered the worst offensive and defensive records, scoring only 5 goals while conceding 15. Furthermore, across all 18 of their World Cup qualification matches to date, Kosovo has managed to keep a clean sheet only once.

• The team found the net in 5 of their last 7 World Cup qualification fixtures.
• On the road, Kosovo has failed to win in 8 of their last 9 matches in this tournament (2 draws, 6 defeats).
• At least one goal was scored in both halves in 4 of Kosovo’s last 5 away World Cup qualifiers.

Predicted Kosovo Starting XI (4-5-1)

Key Players for Kosovo

Arijanet Muric – Mërgim Vojvoda, Amir Rrahmani, Fidan Aliti, Florent Hadergjonaj – Albion Rrahmani, Valon Berisha, Florent Muslija, Lirim Emerllahu, Elvis Rexhbecaj – Edon Zhegrova.

Match Official

Referee Profile

Szymon Marciniak (Poland)

Referee Statistics

Matches officiated: 16 (International matches, 2024/25 – 2025/26);

Yellow cards shown (including second yellows): 51;

Average yellow cards per match: 3.2;

Red cards shown: 1;

Average fouls per match: 21;

Penalties awarded: 31%.

Match Prediction: Switzerland vs. Kosovo

Overall Match Outlook

It is highly improbable that Kosovo will be able to spring a surprise here. This will mark the team’s third World Cup qualifying campaign in their history, and across all previous attempts, they have managed just a single victory (alongside 3 draws and 14 losses). In stark contrast, Switzerland has consistently performed exceptionally well in World Cup qualifiers. In their last campaign, the Swiss dropped points only three times, with two of those instances coming against Italy. Furthermore, on home turf, Switzerland has emerged victorious in 9 of their last 11 matches in this competition.

Offensive and Defensive Analysis

The aforementioned sole clean sheet in World Cup qualification that Kosovo achieved was in an away fixture. However, in their other 8 away matches, the team collectively conceded 16 goals. Switzerland, known for its ability to create and convert chances, is highly likely to exploit such defensive vulnerabilities. The Swiss concluded their last qualifying cycle with an impressive four-match scoring streak, during which they netted a total of 11 goals.

Final Prediction

My prediction: ‘Switzerland to Win and Total Goals Over 1.5’