SOCCER: Tiny Kosovo on verge of World Cup history ahead of final qualifying game against Turkey

PRISTINA – Once banned under Serbian rule in the 1990s, Kosovo’s sporting events were held privately, with soccer players washing off in small rivers or melted snow after games. Today, the country is on the verge of a historic sporting achievement: qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and was only allowed to join world soccer in 2016, will host Turkey in a decisive playoff match on Tuesday. The fixture comes after a thrilling 4-3 victory over Slovakia last week. The winner will secure a spot in North America for the tournament starting in June.

“Kosovo’s appearance in America would be historic, truly epochal,” said Eroll Salihu, former secretary general of Kosovo’s football federation. “This would be the realization of a dream for generations who played in muddy fields and meadows to defend the honor and spirit of the sport.”

Vedat Muriqi, Kosovo’s all-time top scorer, is focused solely on qualification, not personal statistics.

“I don’t care at all about scoring. I hope I don’t score tomorrow, but we just win,” Muriqi told reporters Monday. “Not only for me, but for the entire country. After independence, this could bring the greatest happiness to Kosovo. I strongly believe in victory.”

With a population of just 1.6 million, Kosovo struggled in its first World Cup qualifying campaign for 2018, losing nine out of ten games. But the federation’s outreach to the diaspora improved results, leading to recent wins over Sweden and Slovenia, earning the team a place in the playoffs.

“When I took charge of Kosovo, the goal was to qualify for the European Championship,” manager Franco Foda said Monday. “But recent developments have brought us to the brink of the World Cup.”

Each match carries deep significance for a nation still scarred by conflict. Kosovo’s fight for independence, secured through a NATO air campaign in 1999, claimed more than 13,000 lives.

“People have suffered here; each of us has lost many family members,” said Samir Ujkani, Kosovo’s first captain and goalkeeper, who moved to Belgium as a child. “It is our duty to come back and represent our country.”

Excitement is already building. Kosovo’s national stadium holds just 12,500 fans, a fraction of typical World Cup venues. Tickets for Tuesday’s game sold out in minutes, with resale prices reaching up to 20 times the original value. Towns across the country will broadcast the match on big screens for those unable to attend.

Adding further motivation, Kosovo’s government has promised a bonus of one million euros ($1.15 million) if the team secures victory.

Kosovo now stands at the edge of history, ready to turn years of struggle into a global sporting moment. -Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; additional reporting by Trevor Stynes; editing by Edward McAllister and Christian Radnedge/Reuters