Republic of Ireland begin their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign with a difficult trip to Pristina, where Kosovo await at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium on Thursday evening.

Both nations came agonisingly close to reaching this summer’s World Cup, and both now have Euro 2028 qualification firmly on the horizon. Austria and Israel complete an intriguing League B Group 3, making a positive start particularly valuable for two teams with ambitions of challenging towards the top of the section.

For Ireland, however, the opening assignment comes with a lengthy list of absentees. Captain Nathan Collins is among several established players missing, while Kosovo’s recent home record provides ample warning that this is no routine away fixture.

Kosovo’s progress makes Pristina a difficult destination

Kosovo’s failure to reach the World Cup should not disguise how close they came. Franco Foda’s side finished ahead of Sweden and Slovenia in their qualifying group before defeating Slovakia in a dramatic playoff semi-final. Turkey ultimately stopped them one match short of a first World Cup appearance, winning the decisive playoff 1-0.

That disappointment followed another important step forward in the Nations League. Kosovo earned promotion from League C after finishing second in their section and then beating Iceland over two legs in the promotion playoff.

They therefore begin their first League B campaign with genuine momentum rather than merely hoping to survive at a higher level.

Results in Pristina help explain why. Kosovo have won seven of their last 10 home matches and suffered only one defeat during that sequence – the World Cup playoff loss to Turkey.

There is also plenty of attacking quality available to Foda. Edon Zhegrova and Milot Rashica can provide creativity and direct running from wide positions, while Fisnik Asllani gives Kosovo another promising attacking option. The focal point, though, remains Vedat Muriqi.

Kosovo’s record goalscorer enters the Nations League in outstanding club form, having scored six times in his last six league appearances for Fenerbahce, including four in his most recent outing. His physical presence could be particularly important against an Ireland defence missing Collins.

There has nevertheless been significant change around the national team. Long-serving captain Amir Rrahmani has retired from international football following a dispute with the Kosovo federation, removing a hugely experienced figure from the centre of Foda’s defence.

Kosovo have also lost Donat Rrudhani to injury, while Kreshnik Hajrizi is unavailable. The hosts therefore have vulnerabilities, particularly defensively, but their attacking options and home form mean Ireland are unlikely to be afforded many opportunities to settle into Thursday’s contest.

Ireland arrive with momentum but a depleted squad

Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign ended painfully, but there were genuine signs of progress under Heimir Hallgrímsson.

A memorable victory over Portugal was followed by an extraordinary win against Hungary, inspired by Troy Parrott, to secure a playoff place. Ireland then took a two-goal lead against Czechia in Prague before being pegged back and eventually eliminated on penalties.

Hallgrímsson remained in charge and used the summer to widen his options, with Ireland playing four friendlies and giving opportunities to several less established internationals.

They now arrive in Pristina unbeaten in their last four competitive matches. The FAI also confirmed after Wednesday’s final training session that the travelling squad was fully available for Thursday night’s game.

That does not mean Hallgrímsson has anything approaching his strongest overall squad. Collins has been ruled out of the entire international window with injury, while Evan Ferguson, Josh Cullen, Jack Taylor and Oisin McEntee are also unavailable. Séamus Coleman is absent as he remains without a club and has not been training regularly.

Jamie McGrath and Harvey Vale, who were named in the original squad, have subsequently withdrawn. The shortage of established options has opened the door for others. Liam Kitching has received his first senior call-up, while Joel Bagan is back in the group and Owen Elding is another relatively new face retained following the summer programme.

Hallgrímsson still has experience available in important areas. Caoimhín Kelleher should start in goal, while Dara O’Shea and John Egan are candidates to anchor a reshaped defence. Jason Knight and Jayson Molumby can provide energy in midfield, with Finn Azaz capable of supplying the creativity further forward.

Parrott is the obvious player to watch in attack. His hat-trick against Hungary was one of the defining performances of Ireland’s World Cup campaign, and he has carried that confidence into club football with Real Betis. With Ferguson unavailable, there is an opportunity for Parrott to further establish himself as Ireland’s principal striker.

The challenge will be supplying him. Ireland’s competitive away record remains a concern. They have won just one of their last six away matches, while their defence has frequently struggled to keep opponents out on the road.

That places extra importance on controlling Kosovo’s transitions. Zhegrova and Rashica can punish turnovers quickly, while allowing Muriqi regular service into the penalty area would be particularly dangerous without Collins organising the Irish back line.

There is also unfamiliarity to the occasion: this will be the first competitive meeting between Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland.

Verdict

There is not a great deal separating these teams on paper, but the circumstances favour Kosovo more than the FIFA rankings might suggest.

Ireland have made progress under Hallgrímsson and their performances against Portugal, Hungary and Czechia showed a side increasingly capable of competing under pressure. Parrott also gives them a genuine threat if Kosovo leave space defensively.

The absences are difficult to ignore, though. Losing Collins and Cullen in particular removes important experience from the spine of the team, and Pristina has developed into a difficult place for visiting sides.

Kosovo have attacking quality, an excellent recent home record and a striker arriving in exceptional form. Ireland are capable of taking something from the game, but keeping Muriqi and Kosovo’s wide players quiet for 90 minutes may prove beyond a depleted defence.

Tip: Kosovo to win