FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying – UEFA Group K

Match date: Sunday 16 November 2025

Local kick-off time: 18:00 Europe/Belgrade (CET, UTC+1). Verified listing shows 17:00 UTC.

Venue: Gradski stadion Dubocica, Leskovac, Serbia. Capacity approximately 8,136.

Fixture hub: Flashscore confirms the pairing and live center for 16 Nov 2025. UEFA match page lists stadium and city.

Match Preview

Group K concludes in southern Serbia as Serbia welcome Latvia to the compact and modern Gradski stadion Dubocica in Leskovac. The scheduling places kick-off at 18:00 local time (CET), aligning with a 17:00 UTC start, and caps a campaign that has left Serbia chasing a playoff berth while Latvia look to sign off with a statement road result. The venue recently renovated for top-level football lends an intimate, high-energy backdrop.

Serbia’s situation: results across the autumn have been volatile. A costly home defeat to Albania on 11 October was followed by a professional 3-1 win away to Andorra on 14 October, then a 2-0 reverse at Wembley on 13 November. With the federation installing Veljko Paunovic ahead of the final window, Serbia seek immediate improvements in structure and chance suppression, particularly against transitions and wide deliveries.

Latvia’s arc: the visitors have grown more resilient as the year progressed. A 1-1 draw with Albania in June and a 2-2 home draw with Andorra in October bracketed competitive defeats to Serbia and Albania, before a heavy 0-5 loss to England on 14 October. The form line reflects a team comfortable in a compact 4-4-2/4-5-1 block with emphasis on set pieces and early diagonals after regains.

Tactical picture: Serbia are likeliest to dominate territory, circulating through the double pivot and looking for receptions in the half spaces to generate cut-backs and low crosses rather than hopeful aerial balls. Expect frequent overlaps from the full backs and second-phase shots from the edge of the box. Latvia’s best route is via quick counters into the channels behind Serbia’s advancing full backs and well-worked dead balls. Their midfield screen must limit slips between the lines, forcing Serbia to the outside and into lower-value deliveries.

Head-to-head context: the reverse fixture in Riga on 6 September finished Latvia 0-1 Serbia, a tight game decided by Serbia’s superior shot volume and set-piece pressure. Historically this is a rare pairing at senior level, which adds a layer of uncertainty and increases the importance of early game state.

Game script levers: first goal timing is pivotal. If Serbia score inside the first half hour, their capacity to compress the pitch and recycle pressure can force repeated defensive phases for Latvia. If Latvia reach the hour at 0-0, counters grow more dangerous and nerves can creep into the home side, especially after recent results. Set pieces at both ends look decisive given Serbia’s aerial strength and Latvia’s reliance on restarts.

Bottom line: market pricing and recent data point to a home win, but Latvia have shown enough defensive organization to keep margins narrow for long stretches. Serbia’s bench depth and volume from wide-to-central combinations should eventually tell if they maintain control of transitions and avoid cheap turnovers.

TV Broadcast & Livestreams

• Serbia: RTS and Arena Sport are listed domestic partners for European Qualifiers coverage. Check RTS1/RTS Planeta and Arena Sport schedules for selections.
• United Kingdom: Non-home qualifiers are carried in the UK via Prime Video pay-per-view blocks on selected dates. Listings vary by match.
• United States: Fox Sports platforms and selected streaming partners carry European Qualifiers. Availability varies by region and match.
• Global: Refer to UEFA’s official Where to watch page for licensed partners in your territory. Schedules are subject to change.

Match Information

Kick-off time, stadium and location cross-checked via UEFA, Sofascore and ESPN listings; timezone verified by timeanddate.

Odds (1X2)

Odds move continuously and vary by jurisdiction. Check your bookmaker close to kick-off.

Form & Head-to-Head

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Head-to-Head – recent meetings

Reverse fixture highlight and report available via UEFA and ESPN.

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Standings

Group K snapshot prior to kick-off per ESPN listings.

Prediction

Pick: Serbia 2-0 Latvia

Reasoning: Serbia’s superior shot volume at home, set-piece edge and deeper bench, combined with Latvia’s low scoring output in the group, point toward a controlled home win without conceding. The market strongly favors Serbia and the reverse meeting ended 0-1 in their favor; with home territory and motivation to close on a positive note, a two-goal margin fits the likely game script.