FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying – UEFA Group K

Date: Sunday 16 November 2025

Local kick-off: 18:00 Europe/Tirane (CET, UTC+1).

Venue: Air Albania Stadium, also known as Arena Kombetare, Tirana, Albania.

Fixture identification from the match hub and official listings.

Match Preview

It is a showcase night in Tirana as Albania host group winners England at the Air Albania Stadium. The stakes remain meaningful for both sides. Albania have already secured at least a play off route and can sign off a landmark campaign in front of their fans, while England chase a perfect record and the statistical flourish of completing qualifying without conceding. The setting and storylines guarantee a full blooded European qualifier with pride and history on the line.

How Albania approach it: Under Sylvinho, Albania have been well drilled and pragmatic, leaning on a compact mid block, narrow distances between lines and quick vertical passes into runners. In possession they keep the ball moving with short combinations before releasing early diagonals for channel runs. Their recent away wins and clean sheets stem from discipline and an ability to absorb pressure for long spells, then punish mistakes on transition or from set plays. Expect a 4 3 3 that can flatten into a 4 5 1 without the ball and prioritize the first contact on defensive corners.

What England will try to do: Thomas Tuchel’s team have controlled Group K with structure and control. They press assertively after turnovers, keep a high defensive line when settled, and generate chance volume through rotations in the half spaces rather than hopeful crosses. With a deep pool of attackers, England can vary the reference point up front and flood the area around the box with late arrivals. The 2 0 win over Serbia extended the perfect run to seven from seven and preserved a formidable clean sheet streak.

Key battlegrounds: the central lane between Albania’s screening midfielders and center backs, where England’s creators look to receive on the half turn, and the wide channels behind England’s full backs when Albania break. If Albania can deny central receptions and force England toward earlier deliveries, their center backs will fancy the aerial duels. If England consistently find pockets around the D, cut backs and low crosses will arrive, testing Albania’s back line and goalkeeper repeatedly.

Game flow and psychology: the first goal carries outsized leverage. If England score early, they can keep Albania penned in and recycle pressure through counter presses. If Albania reach the hour at 0 0, the stadium can tilt the energy their way and transitions will gain bite as spaces open. The reverse fixture at Wembley ended 2 0 to England in March, and head to head history favors the visitors strongly, but this Albania side have toughened up since and arrive with a confident run that includes road results and a key win in Andorra on Thursday.

Bottom line: market prices and data make England rightful favorites, yet a competitive, low margin contest is plausible if Albania sustain their compactness and set piece threat. England’s bench depth and late game control are decisive advantages, while Albania’s best path is a measured first half and precision on counters and dead balls.

TV Broadcast and Livestreams

• United Kingdom: ITV1 and ITVX scheduled to show the match live.
• United States: Fox Sports platforms carry European Qualifiers, with streaming on the Fox Sports app.
• Australia: Stan Sport listed for European Qualifiers coverage.
• India: SonyLIV streams selected European Qualifiers.
• Global: Refer to UEFA’s partners page for your territory.

Listings are subject to late change. Always confirm on the day in your region.

Match Information

Kick off and venue confirmed by England FA and UEFA listings. Timezone per timeanddate.

Odds (1X2)

Prices update frequently. Check your bookmaker near kick off.

Form and Head to Head

Head to Head – recent meetings

H2H record confirms England wins in all recent meetings.

Standings

Group K table snapshot before this match.

Prediction

Pick: Albania 0 2 England

Reasoning: England’s control phases, defensive record and depth point to a professional away performance. Albania’s compact structure and recent momentum suggest they can keep the scoreline respectable, but the visitors create and suppress chances at elite levels and have won all recent H2Hs without conceding. The market heavily favors England and a two goal margin aligns with data and game script.