Kosovo’s slim hopes of participating in the 2024 European Championship were definitively dashed on Saturday as the Kosovo national football team drew 1-1 with Switzerland in Basel, marking the penultimate match of the Group I qualifiers.
This represents Kosovo’s second appearance in the European Championship qualifiers since gaining admission to UEFA and FIFA in 2016.
Romania and Switzerland have secured qualification for Euro 2024 as the top two teams in Group I qualifiers.
Kosovo, which has never qualified for a major tournament like the European Championship or the World Cup, harbored hopes for securing a spot in next summer’s tournament in Germany after their victory against Israel last Sunday in Pristina and Switzerland’s subsequent draw with Israel three days later.
However, Saturday’s draw means that Kosovo, with 11 points in fourth place, is eight points behind the leader, Romania, and six points behind Switzerland, which holds the second and final qualifying position for Euro 2024.
To secure qualification, Kosovo needed to defeat Switzerland and, in the final round, overcome Belarus, while hoping Romania would win against Switzerland.
Kosovo has one more group-stage match against Belarus on November 21 in Pristina to conclude this qualifying campaign.
Despite dominating the game, Switzerland faced challenges in breaking the deadlock on a rainy night at St. Jakob-Park Stadium.
They finally secured the lead in the 47th minute of the second half with Ruben Vargas’ goal. However, Muhamet Hyseni equalized for Kosovo with a goal in his debut, coming on in the second half.
Facing many notable absences, including key forwards Vedat Muriqi and Milot Rashica, both injured, and the first-choice goalkeeper, Arijanet Muriqi, absent due to illness, Kosovo is now looking ahead to preparing for the third qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Meanwhile, Albania is officially qualified in the next round of Euro 2024, as the team managed to draw with Moldova in the match played on November 17.
The Albanian national team will face the Faroe Islands on Monday, in their last match of the qualification round for Group E.
