2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying: Albania vs England

Albania host England in their final 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in a Qualifying Group K dead rubber. 

Albania will finish second in the group regardless of the result, having qualified for the play-offs with victory away to Andorra on Thursday (13 November) evening.

England meanwhile have automatically qualified for the main tournament as group winners.

 

Team News

Albania have no fresh injury concerns to report following their 1-0 victory away to Andorra.

England will be without defender, Marc Guehi after he missed their 2-0 victory at home to Serbia with a foot injury.

Ezri Konsa meanwhile has been left out of the travelling squad after he suffered a minor calf issue in their final training session.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Albania host England at Arena Kombetare, Tirana, on Sunday 16 November at 6pm CET (5pm GMT), live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Albania have lost all seven previous World Cup qualifiers against England (L7).
• England have won all three previous World Cup away qualifiers against Albania (W3).
• The Three Lions have kept clean sheets in two of their three previous visits to Albania – having won 2-0 in March 1989 and 2021 respectively, whilst their other visit resulted in a 3-1 win in March 2001.
• This is Albania’s first home match against England not to be played in March.
• Albania are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions (W6, D2).
• England have scored ten goals in their last two away matches without conceding (W2), having defeated Serbia and Latvia by 5-0 results in September and October respectively.

 

Prediction

With second in the group and a play-off spot now assured, all pressure is off Albania coming into this game in what has been their best World Cup Qualifying campaign so I don’t think they have anything to lose by really going for a first win over England.

England meanwhile made hard work against Serbia despite a late second-half intensity improvement and although momentum building is key, I would personally experiment if I was Thomas Tuchel because depth is going to be key especially up top centrally come the World Cup.

I however do expect England to get the win despite this being a dead rubber because finishing the group unbeaten and possibly without conceding will give them a morale boost heading into 2026, but Albania probably won’t make this easy.

Prediction: Albania 0-2 England

Result: Albania 0-2 England