On 14 February 1993. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, the first match of Kosovo was played and it was against Albania and the match ended with a 1–3 away defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Ahmet Beselica, Ardian Kozniku, Bardhyl Seferi, Fadil Berisha, Gani Llapashtica, Genc Hoxha, Isa Sadriu, Kushtrim Munishi, Muharrem Sahiti, Sadullah Ajeti and Selaudin Jerlini.[1]
2002–2010
On 7 September 2002, Kosovo for first time after the Kosovo War played a friendly match against Albania and the match ended with a 0–1 home minimal defeat and the starting line-up of that match was Ahmet Beselica, Ardian Kozniku, Arsim Abazi, Besnik Kollari, Fadil Ademi, Faruk Statovci, Ismet Munishi, Mehmet Dragusha, Sunaj Keqi, Xhevdet Llumnica and Zenun Selimi.[2]
Five games were played after the match against Albania, one of the most important international matches was a 1–0 win over Saudi Arabia played on 15 June 2007. It was the first time that Kosovo played against a team that has taken part in the FIFA World Cup and the winning goal was scored by Kristian Nushi from the penalty kick on the 84th minute.[3]
Kosovo starting line-up in first international friendly against Haiti (4–3–3)[5][6]
After four years pause and following FIFA's ruling for permitting to play friendlies,[7] on 5 March 2014, Kosovo played its first international friendly against Haiti and the match ended in a 0–0 draw.[8][9] After the match against Haiti, five more games were held with Turkey, Senegal, Oman, Equatorial Guinea and in the end with Albania. The first win in these friendlies was against Oman with a 1–0 home minimal win,[10] while the biggest defeat that was simultaneously also the first defeat was a 1–6 home defeat against Turkey that was playing with players that were the majority from Turkish championship.[11]
2016–present
On 3 June 2016, Kosovo played its first international friendly after the membership in UEFA and FIFA against Faroe Islands and the match ended in a 2–0 win.[12]
Participation in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifications
On 9 June 2016, The UEFA Emergency Panel has decided that Kosovo will join Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Turkey and Ukraine in Group I, also decided that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia should not play against Kosovo for security reasons.[13][14] On 5 September 2016, Kosovo made their debut on FIFA World Cup qualifications with a 1–1 away draw against Finland and the draw goal was scored by the newcomer Valon Berisha from the penalty kick on the 60th minute.[15] Kosovo finished these qualifications with nine losses and a draw and that brought the resignation of the coach at that time, Albert Bunjaki.[16]
On 2 March 2018, Kosovo signed with Bernard Challandes to a two-year contract[19] and after 22 days from receiving the manager post, he won the first match against Madagascar with result 1–0.[20] Challandes continued his work in leave in half by the Sahiti and despite the victory over Madagascar, I won other friendly matches as against Burkina Faso and Albania, while 2018 continues with debut on UEFA Nations League with a 0–0 away draw against Azerbaijan,[21] the first win in UEFA Nations League that was simultaneously also the first-ever competitive win was a 2–0 home win against Faroe Islands[22] and the culmination was positioning in first place and promoting in League C in the next season of UEFA Nations League.[23]
Fixtures and results
The following is a list of matches of Kosovo since 1993.[24]
Note: The match was canceled after Burkina Faso did not make the changes required by Football Federation of Kosovo, sending only the list of U23 players.[25]
Note: The match was suspended after 22 minutes due to torrential rain, with the score 0–0 at the time.[30] On 3 September 2017, the match was resumed in 14:30 (UTC+1).[31]
Note: On 24 January 2018. The match Azerbaijan–Kosovo was canceled due to that Azerbaijan and Kosovo will compete in the same group in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.[32]
^"Fitore historike kunder Arabise – Nushi "sheiku" i Kosovës" [Historic win against Arabia – Nushi "sheik" of Kosovo]. Futbolli.com (in Albanian). 7 September 2002. Archived from the original on 30 November 2007. Emri i Kristian Nushit pa dyshim do të hyjë në historinë e futbollit kosovarë. Në realitet, futbollisti i deritashëm i skuadrës zvicerane, Vill, ka shënuar golin e fitores në minutën e 84-të në ndeshjen miqësore ndërkombëtare ndaj Arabisë Saudite qe perfundoi me rezultatin e ngushte 1:0. Nushi u tregua i saktë nga pika e bardhë, pasi më parë mbrojtësit sauditë rrëzuan brenda zonës Ismet Ramushin dhe gjyqtari pa u hamendur tregoi në pikën e bardhë
^ ab"Friendly match canceled". Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 25 January 2018. According to the results of the UEFA Nations League's draws held in Lausanne, Switzerland today, it was defined that Azerbaijan and Kosovo national teams will compete in the same group. Thereby the match planned to be held between these teams in Antalya, Turkey on February 2 was canceled. Both football federations' officials met after the draw ceremony and reached a mutual agreement in this regard
^ ab"FFK-ja sqaron opinionin për ndeshjen miqësore me Iranin" [FFK clarifies the opinion for the friendly match with Iran] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 3 June 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018. Pas dështimit të ndeshjes me Bregun e Fildishtë, FFK-ja kishte kërkuar një tjetër kundërshtar dhe si opsion kishte Moldavinë, Kongon dhe Iranin. Ndonëse me Iranin kishte një pajtueshmëri që ndeshja të zhvillohet në Stamboll, në fund kushtet që u parashtruan nuk ishin të akceptueshme për FFK-në. Në fakt, kërkesa ishte që ndeshja të zhhvillohet pa shikues. FFK-ja mendon se kjo nuk i kontribuon afirmimit dhe fundja futbolli luhet për shikues, ndaj edhe morëm vendim ta anulojmë këtë ndeshje. Kombëtarja e Kosovës do të kthehet në Kosovë të shtunën më 2 qershor