Promoted Kosovo: Why Foda demands everything from Austria
On Sunday, September 27, Austria will meet the promoted Kosovo at 6 p.m. in Vienna's Ernst‑Happel Stadium for the first time – a duel that pits the rapid development of Franco Foda's team against the transitional phase of the Austrian national side, after ten years of FIFA and UEFA membership and after promotion to Nations‑League B.
Kosovo's rapid rise
Since joining FIFA and UEFA about ten years ago, the Kosovar national team has reached Nations‑League B and missed out on the 2026 World Cup qualification by a narrow margin. The promotion to League B was achieved through the Nations‑League relegation playoff between League B and C with a clear 5:2 aggregate score against Iceland.
The previous year Kosovo reached the play‑off final of the World Cup qualification, but lost 0:1 to Turkey and therefore missed the 2026 World Cup.
Austria's transition before the duel
Franco Foda, Austrian head coach from 2018 to 2022, has been in charge of the Kosovar team since February 2024. Beside him is the Austrian co‑coach Robert Ibertsberger, who has closely observed the development of the 60‑year‑old German since taking over.
“The association has only been allowed to officially take part in the qualifying matches for the Nations League, European Championship and World Cup since 2016. That's not that long ago, and you are, after nine years, in the same league as Austria. That's a huge achievement for Kosovo, even though we coaches see even more potential,” Ibertsberger explained last year.
On Kosovo's side, captain Amir Rrahmani is missing due to a dispute with federation president Agim Ademi, as are Florent Muslija and Elvis Rexhbecaj because of injuries. Valon Berisha and Fidan Altili have ended their national‑team involvement; Berisha scored the team's first ever international goal in 2016.
All 27 shortlisted players are expatriates, including three from the Austrian Bundesliga: Vesel Demaku (SCR Altach), Valmir Matoshi (SK Sturm Graz) and Dion Kacuri (SC Austria Lustenau). Demaku, born in Austria, went through the Austrian youth selections.
With an average age of 25.4 years, the Kosovo team is among the youngest in the Nations League. After the draw in February, Foda said: “Austria was not necessarily my preferred draw, they have incredible quality. On the other hand, I am happy to meet my former players again.”
On the Austrian side, Ralf Rangnick initially nominated nine players who were not part of the World Cup squad. After Konrad Laimer's injury, LASK captain Sascha Horvath was added as a newcomer. Rangnick emphasized: “In truth, we also have to start thinking about the EURO in two years, and who are the players we can rely on and count on then.”
Austria heads into the duel with three points after the hard‑earned 3‑1 victory over Israel, while Kosovo also brings three points after a 1‑0 win over Ireland. Rangnick announced: “We want to build on the win over Israel when we face Kosovo.”
In the FIFA ranking, Austria is clearly ahead of Kosovo (rank 23 versus rank 78). A direct duel between the two national teams has not taken place so far, so the upcoming match in Vienna marks a new encounter.