Sweden Falls 2-0 to Kosovo in FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Kosovo stun Sweden 2-0 in World Cup Qualifier

Sweden suffers a 2-0 loss to Kosovo in the World Cup qualifier, putting pressure on their qualification chances.

Kosovo showed remarkable resilience and attacking prowess, nearly doubling their lead through Florent Muslija...

Sweden's World Cup qualifying hopes have taken a hit after a shocking 2-0 loss to Kosovo in Pristina. This defeat leaves Sweden with just one point from their first two qualifiers, sitting five points behind the group leaders in Group B. Kosovo, on the other hand, celebrated their first-ever World Cup qualifying win at home, despite having Lindon Emerllahu sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

The match saw Kosovo take the lead in the 26th minute when Elvis Rexhbecaj's shot rebounded off his shin into the net after goalkeeper Robin Olsen blocked the initial shot. Vedat Muriqi sealed the win for Kosovo three minutes before halftime. Despite Sweden's efforts, including introducing Alexander Isak, they couldn't find a way back into the game.

Sweden entered the match as heavy favorites but struggled to capitalize on their dominance. Despite controlling possession and probing the Kosovo defense, it was the underdogs who created the more promising opportunities. Kosovo's counter-attacking threat proved particularly troublesome for the Swedes, and they came close to scoring after 10 minutes when Albion Rrahmani received a through ball but failed to direct his shot on target.

Kosovo continued to send warning shots, with Vedat Muriqi finding himself in a promising position in the box only to squander the chance with a loose touch. Meanwhile, Sweden seemed to be increasing their pressure, with Viktor Gyokeres using his strength to work a shooting angle in the box. However, their most promising attack ultimately led to a Kosovo counterattack, which resulted in the game's opening goal. Kosovo's threat on the break proved decisive, catching Sweden off guard and exploiting their defensive vulnerabilities.

HISTORIC NIGHT IN #PRISHTINA AS #KOSOVO DEFEATS #SWEDEN! 💙

𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 🇽🇰2-0🇸🇪#KOSSWE pic.twitter.com/jXPE7xuTGX

— Kosovo Football 🇽🇰 (@kosovarfootball) September 8, 2025

The momentum shifted in Kosovo's favor when Elvis Rexhbecaj latched onto a long ball and broke towards goal. Although Robin Olsen saved his initial shot, Rexhbecaj was quick to react and turned the rebound into the net, giving Kosovo the lead. Kosovo's defensive resilience continued to hold strong against Sweden's attacks for the rest of the half.

Just before halftime, Kosovo doubled their lead with a clinical counter-attack. Albion Rrahmani's precise pass found Vedat Muriqi, who unleashed a powerful shot past Olsen, leaving Sweden facing an uphill battle to get back into the match.

Sweden manager Jon Dahl Tomasson made changes at halftime, bringing on Ken Sema and Sebastian Nanasi in an attempt to turn the tide. However, an hour into the match, these substitutions had yet to make an impact, and Kosovo continued to frustrate Sweden's efforts. Despite being ranked 66 places lower, Kosovo's well-organized defensive unit was holding strong, denying Sweden any clear scoring opportunities.

As the match wore on, Sweden's struggles persisted, prompting Tomasson to introduce star striker Alexander Isak in the 72nd minute. The move was aimed at injecting fresh attacking impetus into the team, but Kosovo's defense remained resolute, keeping Sweden at bay and edging closer to a historic victory.

Kosovo showed remarkable resilience and attacking prowess, nearly doubling their lead through Florent Muslija, who skillfully bypassed several Swedish defenders but unfortunately dragged his shot wide. Despite Lindon Emerllahu's late dismissal for a second yellow card, just six minutes after entering the game, Sweden struggled to break through Kosovo's defense.

This painful loss puts Sweden five points behind Switzerland, the group leaders who seem poised to qualify directly. Kosovo, on the other hand, earned their first points in the qualification cycle, positioning themselves as Switzerland's closest challengers.

Current Group B Standings:

• Switzerland: 3 points from 1 match, leading the group
• Sweden: 1 point from 2 matches, 3rd place
• Slovenia: 1 point from 1 match, 2nd place
• Kosovo: 3 points from 2 matches, 4th place initially but now 2nd after gaining points

The loss puts additional pressure on Sweden's campaign, with the top team in each group set to qualify directly for the World Cup finals, while the runners-up will enter the playoffs.

Sweden's next match is against Switzerland on October 10, 2025, while Kosovo faces Sweden on October 13, 2025.