Kosovo national futsal team

Kosovo
Nickname(s)	Dardanët (Dardanians)
Association	Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Arben Simitçiu
Asst coach	Fazli Berisha
Captain	Jeton Rukovci
Home stadium	Palace of Youth and Sports
FIFA code	KVX
FIFA ranking	60 6 (20 December 2023)
Home colours	Away colours
First international
	Finland 1–3 Kosovo ; (Zadar, Croatia; 29 August 2016)
Biggest win
	Kosovo 7–0 Turkey ; (Zadar, Croatia; 31 August 2016)
Biggest defeat
	Ukraine 7–1 Kosovo ; (Skopje, North Macedonia; 24 October 2019); Kosovo 1–7 Slovenia ; (Skopje, North Macedonia; 27 October 2019)

The Kosovo national futsal team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e futsallit të Kosovës; Serbian: Футсал репрезентација Косова, romanized: Futsal reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo in international men's futsal. It is controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo, the governing body for football in Kosovo, which also controls futsal.

History

Permitting by FIFA to play friendlies

On 6 February 2013, FIFA gave the permission to play international friendly games against other member associations.^[4] Whereas, on 13 January 2014, there was a change of this permit that forbade Kosovo to play against the national teams of the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Club teams were also allowed to play friendlies and this happened after a FIFA Emergency Committee meeting. However, it was stipulated that clubs and representative teams of the Football Federation of Kosovo may not display national symbols as flags, emblems, etc. or play national anthems. The go-ahead was given after meetings between the Football Association of Serbia and Sepp Blatter.

Membership in UEFA and FIFA

In September 2015 at an UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Malta was approved the request from the federation to the admission in UEFA to the next Ordinary Congress to be held in Budapest.^[5] On 3 May 2016, at the Ordinary Congress. Kosovo were accepted into UEFA after members voted 28–24 in favor of Kosovo.^[6]^[7] Ten days later, Kosovo was accepted in FIFA during their 66th congress in Mexico with 141 votes in favour and 23 against.^[8]

Competitive record

FIFA Futsal World Cup

On 12 December 2018, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group B of the 2020 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification, together with Andorra, Belarus and Norway.^[9] On 30 January 2019, Kosovo made their debut on FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifications with a 5–0 away defeat against Belarus.^[10]

FIFA Futsal World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1989 to 1996	Part of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro
2000 to 2012	Not a FIFA member
2016	Could not enter
2021	Did not qualify									6	3	0	3	19	28
2024	Did not qualify									7	2	1	4	14	16
Total	—	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	13	5	1	7	33	44

UEFA Futsal Championship

On 21 October 2016, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group E of the UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 qualifying, together with Cyprus, Denmark and Norway.^[11] On 30 January 2017, Kosovo made his debut on UEFA Futsal Euro qualifying with a 1–5 away win against Norway that was simultaneously also the first-ever competitive win.^[12]

UEFA Futsal Championship record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1996 to 1999	Part of Serbia and Montenegro
2001 to 2016	Not a UEFA member
2018	Did not qualify									3	2	0	1	9	4
2022	Did not qualify									3	1	0	2	9	16
2026	To be determined									To be determined
Total	—	0/11	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	6	3	0	3	18	20

Non-FIFA Tournament

Kosovo has so far participated in three international tournaments. first at the Futsal Week 2016, an international futsal tournament.^[13] In which they won this tournament after beating Finland and Turkey in the Groupstage. They also participated at the 2021 Continental Futsal Championship in Thailand.

Tournament	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
2016 Futsal Week Tournament^[14]	Champions	1st	4	3	0	1	17	7
2021 Continental Futsal Championship	Group stage	4th	3	0	1	2	10	14
2023 April Cup Futsal Week	Group stage	3th	2	0	1	1	5	10
Total	1 title	3/3	9	3	2	4	32	31

Fixtures and results

2021

25 July 2021 Continental Futsal Championship	Uzbekistan	6–3	Kosovo	Bangkok, Thailand
15:00 UTC+7	Choriev 1', ?, 38' Rakhmatov 2' Ropiev 22' Erkinov 36'	Report	Salihu 6' Dervishaj 8', 17'	Stadium: Show DC Mall

26 July 2021 Continental Futsal Championship	Kosovo	6–6	Thailand	Bangkok, Thailand
17:15 UTC+7	Salihu 4' Mazreku 20', 23' Rukovci 31' Dervishaj 40', 40+?	Report	Thueanklang 15', 36' Musa 17' Kaewwilai 32' Srisubsaeng 36' Wichian 38'	Stadium: Show DC Mall

27 July 2021 Continental Futsal Championship	Kosovo	1–2	Mozambique	Bangkok, Thailand
15:00 UTC+7	Rukovci 40'	Report	Francisco 4' Jona 20'	Stadium: Show DC Mall

2022

8 April 2024 World Cup qualification	Bulgaria	0–2	Kosovo	Varna, Bulgaria
19:00 (18:00 EEST)		Report	Maxharraj 16:48 Salihu 26:17	Stadium: Palace of Culture and Sports Referee: Dario Pezzuto (Italy)

9 April 2024 World Cup qualification	Kosovo	4–1	Scotland	Varna, Bulgaria
16:30 (15:30 EEST)	Maxharraj 2:41, 8:23, 35:11 Hajdini 27:04	Report	Steedman 13:25	Stadium: Palace of Culture and Sports Referee: Georgios Kazakos (Cyprus)

11 April 2024 World Cup qualification	Kosovo	1–2	Armenia	Varna, Bulgaria
16:30 (15:30 EEST)	Kelmendi 19:20	Report	Kelmendi 1:03 (o.g.) Vitinho 7:08	Stadium: Palace of Culture and Sports Referee: Yiangos Yiangou (Cyprus)

18 September 2024 World Cup qualification	Netherlands	2–1	Kosovo	Rotterdam, Netherlands
19:00	Dahmani 34:23 Ben Khalou 35:22	Report	Rukovci 39:11	Stadium: Topsportcentrum Referee: Kirill Naishouler (Finland

7 October 2024 World Cup qualification	Ukraine	3–1	Kosovo	Salaspils, Latvia
18:00	Cherniavskyi 14:19 Korsun 23:57 Melnyk 26:24	Report	Kastrati 1:21	Stadium: Salaspils sporta nams Referee: Šarūnas Tamulynas (Lithuania)

9 November 2024 World Cup qualification	Kosovo	2–5	Ukraine	Pristina, Kosovo
17:00	Maxharraj 16:48 Salihu 33:31	Report	Cherniavskyi 5:28 Siryi 8:17 Mykytiuk 27:26 Fareniuk 30:55 Lebid 33:06	Stadium: Palace of Youth and Sports Referee: Dejan Veselič (Slovenia)

2023

3 March 2024 World Cup qualification	Kosovo	3–3	Netherlands	Pristina, Kosovo
17:00	Dervishaj 8:35, 28:52 Alaj 32:17	Report	Ben Khalou 30:54 Bouyouzan 38:24 Bouzit 38:51	Stadium: Palace of Youth and Sports Referee: Martina Piccolo (Italy)

14 April April Cup Futsal Week	Slovenia	6–1	Kosovo	Poreč, Croatia
18:15	Bukovec 10', 12' Suban 20' Berzelak 22' Hozjan 28' Totošković 35'	Report	Kaçandolli 19'	Stadium: Finda Hall

15 April April Cup Futsal Week	Montenegro	4–4 (4–1 p)	Kosovo	Poreč, Croatia
16:00	F. Kastrati 13', 32' Mazreku 34', 36'	Report	Bulatović 3' Lolović 17' Puletić 36' (pen.), 38' (pen.)	Stadium: Finda Hall

Players

Current squad

The following players have been called up for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifications.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	KOS	Bajram Ramadani
2	FW	KOS	Endrit Hajdini
3	FW	KOS	Fejza Kastrati
4	FW	KOS	Meriton Salihu
5	DF	KOS	Dardan Topilla
7	FW	KOS	Mërgim Dervishaj
8	FW	KOS	Melos Kelmendi


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
9	FW	KOS	Drilon Maxharraj
10	DF	KOS	Jeton Rukovci (captain)
11	DF	KOS	Driton Nishori
12	GK	KOS	Xhemajl Beqiri
14	DF	KOS	Shefki Kameri
15	DF	KOS	Durim Qorri
18	FW	KOS	Musë Murtezi

Kosovo versus other countries

As of 11 April 2022
Head-to-head records are included only matches as FIFA member.

Opponent	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Armenia	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1	000.00
Albania	2	1	0	1	11	10	+1	050.00
Andorra	1	1	0	0	5	3	+2	100.00
Austria	1	1	0	0	4	2	+2	100.00
Belarus	1	0	0	1	0	5	−5	000.00
Bulgaria	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00
Cyprus	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	100.00
Denmark	1	0	0	1	1	2	−1	000.00
Finland	2	1	0	1	8	7	+1	050.00
Georgia	1	0	0	1	1	6	−5	000.00
Germany	1	0	0	1	4	8	−4	000.00
Mozambique	1	0	1	0	1	2	−1	000.00
Netherlands	2	0	1	1	1	3	−2	000.00
North Macedonia	3	1	0	2	11	16	−5	033.33
Norway	2	2	0	0	10	2	+8	100.00
Scotland	1	1	0	0	4	1	+3	100.00
Slovenia	1	0	0	1	1	7	−6	000.00
Thailand	1	0	1	0	6	6	+0	000.00
Turkey	2	2	0	0	10	0	+10	100.00
Ukraine	1	0	0	1	1	7	−6	000.00
Uzbekistan	1	0	0	1	6	3	+3	000.00
21 Countries	28	12	3	13	91	93	−2	042.86

Notes and references

Notes

^ The international governing body of football, FIFA uses the trigramme 'KVX' for Kosovo,^[1] while the European governing body of football, UEFA uses the trigramme 'KOS' for Kosovo.^[2]

References

^ Dryomin, Mark; Tabeira, Martin; Lozano, Carles; Jeffree, Iain. "FIFA Country Codes". RSSSF. Kosovo (KVX)
^ "Football Federation of Kosovo (KOS)". Union of European Football Associations.
^ "Futsal World Ranking". Futsal World Ranking. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
^ "FIFA Circular no.1342" (PDF). FIFA. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2019.
^ "UEFA shqyrton në mars të vitit të ardhshëm anëtarësimin e Kosovës" [UEFA reviews in March next year Kosovo's membership] (in Albanian). Voice of America. 19 September 2015.
^ "Football Federation of Kosovo joins UEFA". UEFA. 3 May 2016.
^ "Kosovo accepted as member of Uefa after Congress vote". The Guardian. 3 May 2016.
^ "Zyrtare: Kosova pranohet në FIFA, jemi të barabartë me të gjitha vendet e botës" [Official: Kosovo is admitted to FIFA, we are equal to all countries in the world] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 13 May 2016.
^ "Kombëtarja e futsallit mësoi kundërshtarët e kualifikimeve të Botërorit" [National futsal team taught opponents of the World Cup qualifications] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2018. Kombëtarja e Kosovës në futsall është përfshirë në grupin 3 për parakualifikimet e Kampionatit Botëror 2020. Në shortin e tërhequr sot në selinë e UEFA-s, Kosova u përfshi në grup me Norvegjinë, Bjellorusinë dhe Andorrën
^ "Bjellorusia u tregua më cilësore se Kosova në futsall" [Belarus was more qualitative than Kosovo in futsal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 January 2019. Kombëtarja e Kosovës në futsall ka debutuar me humbje në ciklin e saj të parë të parakualifikimeve për Kampionatin Botëror. Në ndeshjen e parë në kuadër të Grupit B, Kosova është mundur nga Bjellorusia, me rezultat të thellë, 5:0
^ "UEFA Futsal EURO preliminary & main round draws". UEFA. 21 October 2016. Group E: Norway, Denmark, Cyprus (hosts), Kosovo
^ "Kosova debuton me fitore në futsall (Foto)" [Kosovo debuts with victory in futsal (Photo)] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 January 2017. Norvegjia-Kosova 1:5 (1:3)
^ "Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës në futsall përfundon e para turneun në Kroaci" [Kosovo national futsal team finished first the tournament in Croatia] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 3 September 2016.
^ "Futsal Week 2016". Futsal Planet. August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017.

External links

Official website (in Albanian and English)
Kosovo (futsal) News about the team

[3] The international governing body of football, FIFA uses the trigramme 'KVX' for Kosovo,^[1] while the European governing body of football, UEFA uses the trigramme 'KOS' for Kosovo.^[2]

[1] Dryomin, Mark; Tabeira, Martin; Lozano, Carles; Jeffree, Iain. "FIFA Country Codes". RSSSF. Kosovo (KVX)

[2] "Football Federation of Kosovo (KOS)". Union of European Football Associations.

[4] "Futsal World Ranking". Futsal World Ranking. Retrieved 12 May 2020.

[5] "FIFA Circular no.1342" (PDF). FIFA. 6 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2019.

[6] "UEFA shqyrton në mars të vitit të ardhshëm anëtarësimin e Kosovës" [UEFA reviews in March next year Kosovo's membership] (in Albanian). Voice of America. 19 September 2015.

[7] "Football Federation of Kosovo joins UEFA". UEFA. 3 May 2016.

[8] "Kosovo accepted as member of Uefa after Congress vote". The Guardian. 3 May 2016.

[9] "Zyrtare: Kosova pranohet në FIFA, jemi të barabartë me të gjitha vendet e botës" [Official: Kosovo is admitted to FIFA, we are equal to all countries in the world] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 13 May 2016.

[10] "Kombëtarja e futsallit mësoi kundërshtarët e kualifikimeve të Botërorit" [National futsal team taught opponents of the World Cup qualifications] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2018. Kombëtarja e Kosovës në futsall është përfshirë në grupin 3 për parakualifikimet e Kampionatit Botëror 2020. Në shortin e tërhequr sot në selinë e UEFA-s, Kosova u përfshi në grup me Norvegjinë, Bjellorusinë dhe Andorrën

[11] "Bjellorusia u tregua më cilësore se Kosova në futsall" [Belarus was more qualitative than Kosovo in futsal] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 January 2019. Kombëtarja e Kosovës në futsall ka debutuar me humbje në ciklin e saj të parë të parakualifikimeve për Kampionatin Botëror. Në ndeshjen e parë në kuadër të Grupit B, Kosova është mundur nga Bjellorusia, me rezultat të thellë, 5:0

[12] "UEFA Futsal EURO preliminary & main round draws". UEFA. 21 October 2016. Group E: Norway, Denmark, Cyprus (hosts), Kosovo

[13] "Kosova debuton me fitore në futsall (Foto)" [Kosovo debuts with victory in futsal (Photo)] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 30 January 2017. Norvegjia-Kosova 1:5 (1:3)

[14] "Përfaqësuesja e Kosovës në futsall përfundon e para turneun në Kroaci" [Kosovo national futsal team finished first the tournament in Croatia] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 3 September 2016.

[15] "Futsal Week 2016". Futsal Planet. August 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017.

[a]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[1]

[2]