The World Cup dream is still alive for Kosovo after a dramatic and well-earned 2-0 victory away to Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday, November 15, 2025. In a contest packed with pressure, tactical adjustments, and no shortage of emotion, Kosovo delivered a performance that will live long in the memory of their supporters, keeping their hopes of a first-ever World Cup berth burning brightly.
Heading into this pivotal UEFA Group B qualifying clash, the stakes could hardly have been higher for either side. Kosovo, the upstarts of the group, trailed leaders Switzerland by three points with two matches left, while Slovenia—desperate to keep their own qualification hopes afloat—needed all three points to avoid mathematical elimination. The tension was palpable at Stožice Stadium in Ljubljana, where over 16,000 fans gathered, hoping to see their heroes rise to the occasion.
Slovenia’s manager Matjaz Kek, forced to contend with the absence of talismanic striker Benjamin Sesko due to a recent injury with Manchester United, fielded a 5-3-2 formation anchored by the ever-reliable Jan Oblak in goal. Up front, Zan Vipotnik and Andraz Sporar led the line, with Tomi Horvat and Max Elsnik providing midfield support. Kosovo, managed by Franco Foda, deployed a 4-4-2, spearheaded by the in-form Fisnik Asllani and Vedat Muriqi, with the energetic Mergim Vojvoda and Florent Muslija patrolling the flanks.
The visitors wasted no time stamping their authority on the match. Just five minutes in, a swift move down the right saw Vojvoda slip a clever pass to Asllani, who controlled deftly inside the box and fired a low, angled shot beyond Oblak into the far corner. The early goal stunned the home crowd and gave Kosovo the perfect platform to build upon. "Kosovo, still dreaming of going to the World Cup, is doing its part in the fight for a spot, beating Slovenia 1-0 with a goal from Asllani early on, five minutes into the first half of this qualifying match!" reported VAVEL.
Slovenia tried to respond, pushing forward with Horvat and Elsnik orchestrating attacks from midfield. Vipotnik had a couple of promising moments, including a powerful header that sailed over and a shot straight at Kosovo keeper Arijanet Muric. But for every Slovenian surge, Kosovo seemed to have an answer. Their defense, marshaled by Lumbardh Dellova and Amir Rrahmani, stood firm, and the midfield duo of Elvis Rexhbecaj and Ibrahim Avdullahu hustled tirelessly to break up Slovenian possession.
As the first half wore on, Kosovo looked the more composed side, creating further chances through Muslija and Asllani, while Oblak was called upon to make several important saves. The hosts did manage a late flurry before the break, with Jaka Bijol and Horvat both seeing efforts blocked by the resolute Kosovo defense. At halftime, the score remained 1-0 to the visitors, and the tension inside Stožice Stadium was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Both managers made adjustments at the interval, with Kek introducing Petar Stojanovic and Dejan Petrovic for Jon Gorenc Stankovic and Erik Janza, while Foda rotated his midfield to keep legs fresh. But any hopes Slovenia had of mounting a comeback were dealt a massive blow just ten minutes into the second half. Stojanovic, barely settled on the pitch, picked up a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Gallapeni, reducing Slovenia to ten men and leaving them with a mountain to climb.
Kosovo capitalized almost immediately. In the 65th minute, a seemingly innocuous cross into the area caused chaos in the Slovenian defense. Zan Karnicnik, under pressure and perhaps rattled by the earlier red card, miscued his clearance spectacularly, lobbing the ball over his own goalkeeper and into the net for one of the most bizarre own goals of the campaign. Suddenly, Kosovo led 2-0, and the Slovenian faithful could scarcely believe their eyes. "And now we have one of the strangest own goals I've ever seen! From a cross into the box that looked like anything but a proper cross, Zan Karnicnik tried to clear it at the edge of the area, but he lobbed the goalkeeper and sent the ball into the right corner, extending Kosovo's lead!" exclaimed the live VAVEL commentary.
With a two-goal cushion and a man advantage, Kosovo managed the remainder of the match with poise. Franco Foda rang in the changes, bringing on fresh legs like Muharrem Jashari and Milot Rashica to shore up the midfield and maintain control. Slovenia, despite valiant efforts from Oblak and a few late attacking substitutions, simply could not break down the disciplined Kosovo back line. The final whistle brought scenes of jubilation among the Kosovo players and traveling fans, while the hosts were left to rue missed opportunities and costly errors.
The result leaves Group B finely poised. Switzerland remain top, but Kosovo’s victory keeps them just three points adrift, setting up a tantalizing final matchday showdown. Slovenia, meanwhile, see their faint World Cup hopes dashed, a bitter pill for a side that had shown flashes of promise but ultimately couldn’t overcome adversity on the night. As FourFourTwo put it, "Slovenia face something of a battle to keep their slender World Cup intact this weekend... Matjaz Kek's men have four points to make up on Kosovo heading into this one in Group B and must recognise it is now or never." Unfortunately for the hosts, the moment passed them by.
In the broader context, Kosovo’s triumph is a testament to their remarkable progress on the international stage. Having only joined FIFA and UEFA in 2016, their rise has been meteoric, and this campaign marks their best qualification run yet. With players like Asllani, Muriqi, and Rrahmani leading the charge, and a coach in Franco Foda who has instilled belief and tactical discipline, Kosovo now stand on the brink of history.
For Slovenia, attention will inevitably turn to rebuilding and reflecting on a campaign that promised more than it delivered. The absence of Benjamin Sesko was keenly felt, and while Jan Oblak once again demonstrated his world-class credentials, it was not enough to stem the Kosovo tide. The hosts will look to the future, but for now, the spotlight belongs to Kosovo and their traveling army of supporters.
As the dust settles on an unforgettable night in Ljubljana, Kosovo’s World Cup dream is very much alive. With a decisive clash against Switzerland looming, the stage is set for one final act in this remarkable qualifying story. Can the underdogs go all the way? After this performance, few would dare to count them out.
