Klopp's Germany must play Nations League in Belgrade without fans in November

The DFB team boss Jürgen Klopp may have to play the next Nations League match in November without spectators, because UEFA is leaving the stadium in Belgrade empty for the game against Serbia. The ruling raises the question whether the absence of fans could be an advantage for the German coach.

UEFA sanction and fan ban

UEFA has sanctioned Serbia for racist and discriminatory behaviour of its supporters in the matches against Greece (1‑2) and the Netherlands (1‑2). As a punishment, no audience will be allowed into the Rajko Mitić stadium for the penultimate group match on 13 November, and a fine of €50,000 will be imposed.

The Serbian association plans to allow at least children and 2,000 German fans to access the venue, but concrete details about a mini‑setting are still missing. Similar measures had already been implemented by the Croatian association for a match against England.

Group standings and qualification pressure

After the 2‑0 win in Munich on 1 October, when the Serbian stadium was not allowed to sell tickets to its fans, Serbia now has to pay almost €80,000 for further violations and receives a two‑year probationary sentence for fan bans.

Serbia ghost match: UEFA bans German fans from Klopp match

The DFB team’s atmosphere will be missing the usual heated vibe in Belgrade. Is this ruling an advantage for Jürgen Klopp? The German side now has to cope without loud support, which could turn the match into a potential ghost game.

In the current standings, the German national team sits five points behind the Netherlands and Greece, who each have eight points. Serbia is already at the bottom with zero points.

UEFA imposes ghost‑match penalty on Serbia – Klopp stays fan‑less

Only the two top teams from each group qualify for the knockout round in March 2027. As a third‑placed side, Klopp’s team would have to drop into the relegation playoff to the B League of the Nations League, which makes a win in Belgrade mandatory.