Kosovo national futsal team

Kosovo
Nickname(s)Dardanët (Dardanians)
AssociationFootball Federation of Kosovo (FFK)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachArben Simitçiu
Asst coachFazli Berisha
CaptainJeton Rukovci
Home stadiumPalace of Youth and Sports
FIFA codeKVX[a]
FIFA ranking60 Increase 6 (20 December 2023)[3]
Home colours
Away colours
First international
 Finland 1–3 Kosovo 
(Zadar, Croatia; 29 August 2016)
Biggest win
 Kosovo 7–0 Turkey 
(Zadar, Croatia; 31 August 2016)
Biggest defeat
 Ukraine 7–1 Kosovo 
(Skopje, North Macedonia; 24 October 2019)
 Kosovo 1–7 Slovenia 
(Skopje, North Macedonia; 27 October 2019)

The Kosovo national futsal team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e futsallit të Kosovës; Serbian: Футсал репрезентација Косова, romanized: Futsal reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo in international men's futsal. It is controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo, which also controls futsal.

History

Permitting by FIFA to play friendlies

On 6 February 2013, FIFA gave the permission to play international friendly games against other member associations.[4] Whereas, on 13 January 2014, there was a change of this permit that forbade Kosovo to play against the national teams of the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Club teams were also allowed to play friendlies and this happened after a FIFA Emergency Committee meeting. However, it was stipulated that clubs and representative teams of the Football Federation of Kosovo may not display national symbols as flags, emblems, etc. or play national anthems. The go-ahead was given after meetings between the Football Association of Serbia and Sepp Blatter.

Membership in UEFA and FIFA

In September 2015 at an UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Malta was approved the request from the federation to the admission in UEFA to the next Ordinary Congress to be held in Budapest.[5] On 3 May 2016, at the Ordinary Congress. Kosovo were accepted into UEFA after members voted 28–24 in favor of Kosovo.[6][7] Ten days later, Kosovo was accepted in FIFA during their 66th congress in Mexico with 141 votes in favour and 23 against.[8]

Competitive record

FIFA Futsal World Cup

On 12 December 2018, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group B of the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification, together with Andorra, Belarus and Norway.[9] On 30 January 2019, Kosovo made their debut on FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifications with a 5–0 away defeat against Belarus.[10]

FIFA Futsal World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Netherlands 1989 to Spain 1996 Part of  Yugoslavia and  Serbia and Montenegro
Guatemala 2000 to Thailand 2012 Not a FIFA member
Colombia 2016 Could not enter
Lithuania 2021 Did not qualify 6 3 0 3 19 28
Uzbekistan 2024 Did not qualify 7 2 1 4 14 16
Total 0/9 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 5 0 4 26 31

UEFA Futsal Championship

On 21 October 2016, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group E of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 qualifying, together with Cyprus, Denmark and Norway.[11] On 30 January 2017, Kosovo made his debut on UEFA Futsal Euro qualifying with a 1–5 away win against Norway that was simultaneously also the first-ever competitive win.[12]

UEFA Futsal Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
Spain 1996 to Spain 1999 Part of  Serbia and Montenegro
Russia 2001 to Serbia 2016 Not a UEFA member
Slovenia 2018 Did not qualify 3 2 0 1 9 4
Netherlands 2022 3 1 0 2 9 16
LatviaLithuania 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/11 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3 0 3 18 20

Non-FIFA Tournament

Kosovo has so far participated in two international tournaments. first at the Futsal Week 2016, an international futsal tournament.[13] In which they won this tournament after beating Finland and Turkey in the Groupstage. They also participated at the 2021 Continental Futsal Championship in Thailand.

Tournament Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA
Croatia 2016 Futsal Week Tournament[14] Champions 1st 4 3 0 1 17 7
Thailand 2021 Continental Futsal Championship Group stage 4th 3 0 1 2 10 14
Croatia 2023 April Cup Futsal Week Group stage 3th 2 0 1 1 5 10
Total 1 title 3/3 9 3 2 4 32 31

Fixtures and results

2021

Uzbekistan  v  Kosovo
25 July 2021 Continental Futsal Championship Uzbekistan  6–3  Kosovo Bangkok, Thailand
15:00 UTC+7 Choriev Goal 1'?38'
Rakhmatov Goal 2'
Ropiev Goal 22'
Erkinov Goal 36'
Report Salihu Goal 6'
Dervishaj Goal 8'17'
Stadium: Show DC Mall
Kosovo  v  Thailand
26 July 2021 Continental Futsal Championship Kosovo  6–6  Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
17:15 UTC+7 Salihu Goal 4'
Mazreku Goal 20'23'
Rukovci Goal 31'
Dervishaj Goal 40'40+?
Report Thueanklang Goal 15'36'
Musa Goal 17'
Kaewwilai Goal 32'
Srisubsaeng Goal 36'
Wichian Goal 38'
Stadium: Show DC Mall
Kosovo  v  Mozambique
27 July 2021 Continental Futsal Championship Kosovo  1–2  Mozambique Bangkok, Thailand
15:00 UTC+7 Rukovci Goal 40' Report Francisco Goal 4'
Jona Goal 20'
Stadium: Show DC Mall

2022

Bulgaria  v  Kosovo
8 April 2024 World Cup qualification Bulgaria  0–2  Kosovo Varna, Bulgaria
19:00 (18:00 EEST) Report Maxharraj Goal 16:48
Salihu Goal 26:17
Stadium: Palace of Culture and Sports
Referee: Dario Pezzuto (Italy)
Kosovo  v  Scotland
9 April 2024 World Cup qualification Kosovo  4–1  Scotland Varna, Bulgaria
16:30 (15:30 EEST) Maxharraj Goal 2:418:2335:11
Hajdini Goal 27:04
Report Steedman Goal 13:25 Stadium: Palace of Culture and Sports
Referee: Georgios Kazakos (Cyprus)
Kosovo  v  Armenia
11 April 2024 World Cup qualification Kosovo  1–2  Armenia Varna, Bulgaria
16:30 (15:30 EEST) Kelmendi Goal 19:20 Report Kelmendi Goal 1:03 (o.g.)
Vitinho Goal 7:08
Stadium: Palace of Culture and Sports
Referee: Yiangos Yiangou (Cyprus)
Netherlands  v  Kosovo
18 September 2024 World Cup qualification Netherlands  2–1  Kosovo Rotterdam, Netherlands
19:00 Dahmani Goal 34:23
Ben Khalou Goal 35:22
Report Rukovci Goal 39:11 Stadium: Topsportcentrum
Referee: Kirill Naishouler (Finland
Ukraine  v  Kosovo
7 October 2024 World Cup qualification Ukraine  3–1  Kosovo Salaspils, Latvia
18:00 Cherniavskyi Goal 14:19
Korsun Goal 23:57
Melnyk Goal 26:24
Report Kastrati Goal 1:21 Stadium: Salaspils sporta nams
Referee: Šarūnas Tamulynas (Lithuania)
Kosovo  v  Ukraine
9 November 2024 World Cup qualification Kosovo  2–5  Ukraine Pristina, Kosovo
17:00 Maxharraj Goal 16:48
Salihu Goal 33:31
Report Cherniavskyi Goal 5:28
Siryi Goal 8:17
Mykytiuk Goal 27:26
Fareniuk Goal 30:55
Lebid Goal 33:06
Stadium: Palace of Youth and Sports
Referee: Dejan Veselič (Slovenia)

2023

Kosovo  v  Netherlands
3 March 2024 World Cup qualification Kosovo  3–3  Netherlands Pristina, Kosovo
17:00 Dervishaj Goal 8:3528:52
Alaj Goal 32:17
Report Ben Khalou Goal 30:54
Bouyouzan Goal 38:24
Bouzit Goal 38:51
Stadium: Palace of Youth and Sports
Referee: Martina Piccolo (Italy)
Slovenia  v  Kosovo
14 April April Cup Futsal Week Slovenia  6–1  Kosovo Poreč, Croatia
18:15 Bukovec Goal 10'12'
Suban Goal 20'
Berzelak Goal 22'
Hozjan Goal 28'
Totošković Goal 35'
Report Kaçandolli Goal 19' Stadium: Finda Hall
Montenegro  v  Kosovo
15 April April Cup Futsal Week Montenegro  4–4
(4–1 p)
 Kosovo Poreč, Croatia
16:00 F. Kastrati Goal 13'32'
Mazreku Goal 34'36'
Report Bulatović Goal 3'
Lolović Goal 17'
Puletić Goal 36' (pen.)38' (pen.)
Stadium: Finda Hall

Players

Current squad

  • The following players have been called up for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifications.
No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Kosovo KOS Bajram Ramadani
2 FW Kosovo KOS Endrit Hajdini
3 FW Kosovo KOS Fejza Kastrati
4 FW Kosovo KOS Meriton Salihu
5 DF Kosovo KOS Dardan Topilla
7 FW Kosovo KOS Mërgim Dervishaj
8 FW Kosovo KOS Melos Kelmendi
No. Pos. Nation Player
9 FW Kosovo KOS Drilon Maxharraj
10 DF Kosovo KOS Jeton Rukovci (captain)
11 DF Kosovo KOS Driton Nishori
12 GK Kosovo KOS Xhemajl Beqiri
14 DF Kosovo KOS Shefki Kameri
15 DF Kosovo KOS Durim Qorri
18 FW Kosovo KOS Musë Murtezi

Kosovo versus other countries

As of 11 April 2022
Head-to-head records are included only matches as FIFA member.
Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
 Armenia 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 000.00
 Albania 2 1 0 1 11 10 +1 050.00
 Andorra 1 1 0 0 5 3 +2 100.00
 Austria 1 1 0 0 4 2 +2 100.00
 Belarus 1 0 0 1 0 5 −5 000.00
 Bulgaria 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 100.00
 Cyprus 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 100.00
 Denmark 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 000.00
 Finland 2 1 0 1 8 7 +1 050.00
 Georgia 1 0 0 1 1 6 −5 000.00
 Germany 1 0 0 1 4 8 −4 000.00
 Mozambique 1 0 1 0 1 2 −1 000.00
 Netherlands 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 000.00
 North Macedonia 3 1 0 2 11 16 −5 033.33
 Norway 2 2 0 0 10 2 +8 100.00
 Scotland 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 100.00
 Slovenia 1 0 0 1 1 7 −6 000.00
 Thailand 1 0 1 0 6 6 +0 000.00
 Turkey 2 2 0 0 10 0 +10 100.00
 Ukraine 1 0 0 1 1 7 −6 000.00
 Uzbekistan 1 0 0 1 6 3 +3 000.00
21 Countries 28 12 3 13 91 93 −2 042.86

See also

Men's
Women's

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ The international governing body of football, FIFA uses the trigramme 'KVX' for Kosovo,[1] while the European governing body of football, UEFA uses the trigramme 'KOS' for Kosovo.[2]

References

  1. ^ Dryomin, Mark; Tabeira, Martin; Lozano, Carles; Jeffree, Iain. "FIFA Country Codes". RSSSF. Kosovo (KVX)
  2. ^ "Football Federation of Kosovo (KOS)". Union of European Football Associations.
  3. ^ "Futsal World Ranking". Futsal World Ranking. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  4. ^ "FIFA Circular no.1342" (PDF). FIFA. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2019.
  5. ^ "UEFA shqyrton në mars të vitit të ardhshëm anëtarësimin e Kosovës" [UEFA reviews in March next year Kosovo's membership] (in Albanian). Voice of America. 19 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Football Federation of Kosovo joins UEFA". UEFA. 3 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Kosovo accepted as member of Uefa after Congress vote". The Guardian. 3 May 2016.
  8. ^ "Zyrtare: Kosova pranohet në FIFA, jemi të barabartë me të gjitha vendet e botës" [Official: Kosovo is admitted to FIFA, we are equal to all countries in the world] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 13 May 2016.
  9. ^ "Kombëtarja e futsallit mësoi kundërshtarët e kualifikimeve të Botërorit" [National futsal team taught opponents of the World Cup qualifications] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2018. Kombëtarja e Kosovës në futsall është përfshirë në grupin 3 për parakualifikimet e Kampionatit Botëror 2020. Në shortin e tërhequr sot në selinë e UEFA-s, Kosova u përfshi në grup me Norvegjinë, Bjellorusinë dhe Andorrën
  10. ^ "Bjellorusia u tregua më cilësore se Kosova në futsall" [Belarus was more qualitative than Kosovo in futsal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 January 2019. Kombëtarja e Kosovës në futsall ka debutuar me humbje në ciklin e saj të parë të parakualifikimeve për Kampionatin Botëror. Në ndeshjen e parë në kuadër të Grupit B, Kosova është mundur nga Bjellorusia, me rezultat të thellë, 5:0
  11. ^ "UEFA Futsal EURO preliminary & main round draws". UEFA. 21 October 2016. Group E: Norway, Denmark, Cyprus (hosts), Kosovo
  12. ^ "Kosova debuton me fitore në futsall (Foto)" [Kosovo debuts with victory in futsal (Photo)] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 January 2017. Norvegjia-Kosova 1:5 (1:3)
  13. ^ "Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës në futsall përfundon e para turneun në Kroaci" [Kosovo national futsal team finished first the tournament in Croatia] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 3 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Futsal Week 2016". Futsal Planet. August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017.

External links

  • Official website (in Albanian and English)
  • Kosovo (futsal) News about the team
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