The Matchday 3 World Cup 2026 qualifier between Albania and Serbia will take place on June 7 at the Arena Kombëtare in Tirana. Albania vs. Serbia: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Albania
The Balkan team has collected three points in the first two rounds of the World Cup qualifiers. In their opening game, Albania fell 0-2 away to England, but then they thrashed Andorra 3-0 at home. Interestingly, Albania's uncompromising run in this tournament has now reached 14 matches (7 wins and 7 losses). Currently, Silvinho's side sits second in their group, although Serbia has yet to play a match.
- At least one team failed to score in eight of Albania's previous World Cup qualifiers.
- The Balkan side has not conceded in the first half in their last five home matches in European World Cup qualifiers.
- On home soil, the team has won 4 of their last 5 matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Albania (4-3-3)
Thomas Strakosha – Naser Aliji, Arlind Ajeti, Berat Djimsiti, Ivan Balliu – Qazim Laci, Ylber Ramadani, Kristjan Asllani – Nedim Bajrami, Myrto Uzuni, Armando Broja.
Serbia
Dragan Stojković's team missed the spring World Cup qualifiers due to commitments in the Nations League. They emerged victorious over Austria in a two-legged tie, securing their place in League A (1-1 and 2-0). In their last World Cup qualification campaign, Serbia also performed exceptionally well, remaining unbeaten in their last nine matches (7 wins and 2 draws).
- Both teams scored in 7 of Serbia's last 8 matches in this tournament.
- At least three goals were scored in 6 of Serbia's last 8 World Cup qualifiers.
- The team has not conceded more than one goal in 9 of their last 10 away matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Serbia (4-3-3)
Đorđe Petrović – Srđan Babić, Strahinja Pavlović, Strahinja Eraković, Nikola Milenković – Nemanja Maksimović, Nemanja Gudelj, Saša Lukić – Aleksandar Mitrović, Stefan Mitrović, Luka Jović.
Goalkeeper Predrag Rajković, midfielders Ivan Ilić, Mirko Topić, Petar Stanić, and Milutin Vidoslavljević have left the squad due to injury.
Referee
Davide Massa (Italy)
Matches – 13 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 38;
Average yellow cards per match – 2.9;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 18;
Penalties – 23%.
Match Prediction: Albania vs. Serbia
This encounter is unlikely to be high-scoring. The teams have previously faced each other at the official level: in the Euro 2016 qualifiers, Albania lost 0-2 at home, and the match in Serbia was abandoned in the first half, later resulting in a technical defeat for the hosts. Given the unfriendly relations between these teams, I anticipate more of a battle than a football match, which is why the game is unlikely to be high-scoring.
In Albania's home World Cup qualifiers, no more than two goals have been scored in 6 of their last 8 games. Likewise, no more than two goals have been scored in 10 of Serbia's last 11 official matches. Notably, Serbia has scored more than once only twice during this period.
I expect a gritty game with few goals, so my prediction: Total under 2.5 goals
