Kosovo women's national football team

Kosovo
Nickname(s)	Dardanet (Dardanets)
Association	Federata e Futbollit e Kosovës (FFK)
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Karin Anneli Andersen
Captain	Ereleta Memeti
Most caps	Kaltrina Biqkaj (50)
Top scorer	Erëleta Memeti (10)
Home stadium	Fadil Vokrri Stadium
FIFA code	KOS
FIFA ranking
Current	91 9 (15 March 2024)
Highest	91 (March 2024)
Lowest	126 (July – September 2019)
First international
	Kosovo 0–5 Poland ; (Alanya, Turkey; 1 March 2017)
Biggest win
	Kosovo 7–0 Hong Kong ; (Alanya, Turkey; 18 February 2023)
Biggest defeat
	Belgium 7–0 Kosovo ; (Leuven, Belgium; 21 October 2021); Poland 7–0 Kosovo ; (Lublin, Poland; 6 September 2022);

The Kosovo women's national football team (Albanian: Kombëtarja e futbollit të femrave të Kosovës; Serbian: Женска фудбалска репрезентација Косова, romanized: Ženska fudbalska reprezentacija Kosova) represents Kosovo in international women's football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Kosovo.

History

Permitting by FIFA to play friendlies

On 6 February 2013, FIFA gave Kosovo the permission to play international friendly games against other member associations.^[2] 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.^[3] On 3 May 2016, at the Ordinary Congress. Kosovo were accepted into UEFA after members voted 28–24 in favor of Kosovo.^[4]^[5] Ten days later, Kosovo was accepted in FIFA during their 66th congress in Mexico with 141 votes in favour and 23 against.^[6]

First tournament

Debut in World Cup and Euro qualifications

Kosovo began to make their debut in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification, where Kosovo was drawn with Albania, Greece and Malta.^[7] The Kosovars despite the efforts failed to qualify and finished last in the group with three losses.

After failing to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, Kosovo participated in the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying, together with Estonia, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and 2019 World Cup runners-up finisher Netherlands,^[8] the Kosovars created their first big surprise, defeating Turkey in a 2–0 home win, which was also the team's first-ever competitive win,^[9] victory which increased the enthusiasm which unfortunately did not last long and after the positive results began to experience a decline which resulted in disqualification.

Team image

Nicknames

The Kosovo women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Dardanet (Dardanets)".

Kits and crest

The Kosovan women's national football team wears blue jersey at home matches, white jersey at away matches, black jersey at neutral matches, but mostly this jersey is used as an alternative jersey, following the tradition of the Kosovo men's team. On 5 October 2016, Kosovo signed with Spanish sportswear company Kelme to a four-year contract and was the first official kit suppliers of Kosovo after membership in UEFA and FIFA.^[10] On 23 February 2022, Kosovo signed with Italian sportswear company Erreà to a three-year contract for it to the kit suppliers of Kosovo.^[11]

Fadil Vokrri Stadium

Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium

Kit supplier	Period	Contract
Kit supplier	Period	Announcement	Duration
Kelme	2016–2018	5 October 2016	2016–2020 (4 years)
Fourteen	2018–2023	16 June 2018	2018–2022 (4 years)
Erreà	2023–present	23 February 2023	2023–2026 (3 years)

Home stadium

Kosovo's home stadium is the Fadil Vokrri Stadium. The stadium capacity is 13,500, which makes it the second largest national stadium in Kosovo. Kosovo's previous national stadium was the Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium which is currently under renovation.

Kosovo national football team home stadiums
Stadium	Capacity	Location	Pld	W	D	L	Win %	First match		Last match		UEFA category
Stadium	Capacity	Location	Pld	W	D	L	Win %	Opponent	Date	Opponent	Date	UEFA category
Fadil Vokrri Stadium	13,500	Pristina, Kosovo	12	5	1	6	041.67	North Macedonia	8 April 2019	North Macedonia	31 October 2023
FFK National Educational Camp	—	Hajvalia, Kosovo	2	2	0	0	100.00	Liechtenstein	13 July 2023	Liechtenstein	13 July 2023
Zahir Pajaziti Stadium	9,000	Podujevo, Kosovo	2	1	0	1	050.00	Bulgaria	1 December 2023	Wales	9 April 2024
Gjakova City Stadium	6,000	Gjakova, Kosovo	1	1	0	0	100.00	North Macedonia, 5 April 2019
Adem Jashari Olympic Stadium	18,500	Mitrovica, Kosovo	1	1	0	0	100.00	Montenegro, 26 November 2017

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

Win Draw Lose Void or postponed Fixture

2023

v

Liechtenstein

13 July Friendly	Kosovo	4–0	Liechtenstein	Hajvalia, Kosovo
16:30	Memeti 41' Kastrati 58' (pen.) Biqkaj 65' (pen.) J. Shala 87' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: FFK National Educational Camp Attendance: 150 Referee: Emanuela Rusta (Albania)

v

Liechtenstein

16 July Friendly	Kosovo	2–0	Liechtenstein	Hajvalia, Kosovo
11:30	Halilaj 78' Ramadani 81'	Report		Stadium: FFK National Educational Camp Attendance: 40 Referee: Emanuela Rusta (Albania)

v

Kosovo

26 September 2023–24 Nations League	Bulgaria	0–0	Kosovo	Plovdiv, Bulgaria
17:00		Report		Stadium: Stadion Lokomotiv Attendance: 223 Referee: Lovisa Johansson (Sweden)

v

Kosovo

27 October 2023–24 Nations League	North Macedonia	0–2	Kosovo	Skopje, North Macedonia
13:00		Report	Limani 20' Metaj 41'	Stadium: Petar Miloševski Training Centre Attendance: 170 Referee: Michaela Pachtova (Czech Republic)

v

North Macedonia

31 October 2023–24 Nations League	Kosovo	3–1	North Macedonia	Pristina, Kosovo
17:00	Halilaj 7' (pen.) Memeti 14' Biqkaj 34'	Report	Cokleska 90'	Stadium: Fadil Vokrri Stadium Attendance: 300 Referee: Silvia Domingos (Portugal)

v

Bulgaria

1 December 2023–24 Nations League	Kosovo	5–1	Bulgaria	Podujevo, Kosovo
13:00	Halilaj 39' Metaj 58' Uka 71' Memeti 84', 89'	Report	Ivanova 26'	Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium Attendance: 120 Referee: Meliz Özçiğdem (Turkey)

2024

v

Kosovo

21 February 2024 Turkish Women's Cup	Hong Kong	0–1	Kosovo	Alanya, Turkey
16:30		Report	Ejupi 78'	Stadium: Gold City Sport Complex Referee: Gamze Durmuş (Turkey)

v

Estonia

24 February 2024 Turkish Women's Cup	Kosovo	3–0	Estonia	Alanya, Turkey
11:00	Uka 15' Ejupi 29' Metaj 33'	Report		Stadium: Gold City Sport Complex Referee: Cansu Tiryaki (Turkey)

v

India

27 February 2024 Turkish Women's Cup	Kosovo	1–0	India	Alanya, Turkey
11:00	Memeti 90+1'	Report		Stadium: Gold City Sport Complex Referee: Gamze Durmuş (Turkey)

v

Kosovo

5 April UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying	Ukraine	2–0	Kosovo	Antalya, Turkey
17:00	Petryk 28' (pen.) Khimich 34'	Report		Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex Referee: Karoline Wacker (Germany)

v

Wales

9 April UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying	Kosovo	0–6	Wales	Podujevo, Kosovo
14:00		Report	Rowe 30', 60' Barton 44' Morgan 62' Hughes 85', 90+3'	Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium Referee: Galiya Echeva (Bulgaria)

v

Croatia

31 May UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying	Kosovo	v	Croatia	Podujevo, Kosovo
		Report		Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium

v

Kosovo

4 June UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying	Croatia	v	Kosovo	Karlovac, Croatia
		Report		Stadium: Stadion Branko Čavlović-Čavlek

v

Ukraine

12 July UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying	Kosovo	v	Ukraine	Podujevo, Kosovo
		Report		Stadium: Zahir Pajaziti Stadium

v

Kosovo

16 July UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying	Wales	v	Kosovo	Wales
		Report

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Karin Anneli Andersen
Assistant coach(es)
	Katarina Dunder Olsson
	Sanije Krasniqi
	Xhemile Berisha
Fitness coach	Fitim Shabani
Goalkeeping coach	Diellza Musa
Physiotherapist(s)
	Florentina Lahu
	Qendresa Ajvazi
Doctor	Vlora Podvorica
Kit manager	Liburn Rama
Team manager	Valbona Gashi Uka

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Ukraine and Wales, on 5 and 9 April 2024.^[12]
All caps and goals as of 9 April 2024 after match against Wales, only matches as FIFA member are included.^[b]

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club^[c]
12	1GK	Florentina Kolgeci	(2000-10-30) 30 October 2000 (age 23)	18	0	Tirana
1	1GK	Besarta Leci	(1993-10-14) 14 October 1993 (age 30)	17	0	VfB Stuttgart
12	1GK	Alma Demiri	(2005-06-27) 27 June 2005 (age 18)	8	0	1. FC Köln

11	2DF	Edona Kryeziu	(1995-10-03) 3 October 1995 (age 28)	47	0	Mitrovica
18	2DF	Feride Kastrati	(1993-05-23) 23 May 1993 (age 30)	24	1	EP-COM Hajvalia
5	2DF	Blerta Smaili	(2002-05-08) 8 May 2002 (age 22)	21	0	Basel
15	2DF	Fatlinda Ramaj	(2000-10-01) 1 October 2000 (age 23)	19	0	EP-COM Hajvalia
2	2DF	Rrezona Ramadani	(2002-09-05) 5 September 2002 (age 21)	12	1	Vllaznia Shkodër
3	2DF	Gresa Berisha	(1998-04-26) 26 April 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Tirana
19	2DF	Albulena Fejza	(2002-09-24) 24 September 2002 (age 21)	1	0	Mitrovica

8	3MF	Blerta Shala	(1998-12-03) 3 December 1998 (age 25)	44	1	Mitrovica
4	3MF	Donjeta Halilaj (vice-captain)	(2000-03-12) 12 March 2000 (age 24)	37	7	Beşiktaş
6	3MF	Lumbardha Misini	(2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 21)	23	0	Mitrovica
20	3MF	Viola Avduli	(1999-11-22) 22 November 1999 (age 24)	20	0	Zürich
14	3MF	Valentina Metaj	(2004-10-03) 3 October 2004 (age 19)	14	6	IFK Kalmar
13	3MF	Elizabeta Ejupi	(1994-04-21) 21 April 1994 (age 30)	9	3	Sunderland
17	3MF	Venera Rexhi	(1996-02-19) 19 February 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Mallbackens
22	3MF	Vanesa Hoti	(1998-08-03) 3 August 1998 (age 25)	3	0	Basel

9	4FW	Kaltrina Biqkaj	(2000-08-05) 5 August 2000 (age 23)	50	8	Mitrovica
10	4FW	Valentina Limani	(1997-02-02) 2 February 1997 (age 27)	39	4	Eintracht Frankfurt
7	4FW	Erëleta Memeti (captain)	(1999-06-30) 30 June 1999 (age 24)	30	10	TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
23	4FW	Modesta Uka	(1999-05-23) 23 May 1999 (age 24)	23	7	Sturm Graz
21	4FW	Egzona Zeka	(1997-04-25) 25 April 1997 (age 27)	7	0	Mitrovica

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for a squad within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club^[c]	Latest call-up
GK	Rajmonda Spahiu	(2006-03-25) 25 March 2006 (age 18)	2	0	Mitrovica	2024 Turkish Women's Cup
GK	Djellza Mehmeti	(2006-10-27) 27 October 2006 (age 17)	0	0	EP-COM Hajvalia	2024 Turkish Women's Cup
GK	Raimonda Spahiu	(2006-03-25) 25 March 2006 (age 18)	0	0	Mitrovica	v. Bulgaria, 1 December 2023
GK	Lavdije Behramaj	(1999-05-01) 1 May 1999 (age 25)	3	0	Mitrovica	v. North Macedonia, 31 October 2023

DF	Agnesa Gashi	(1998-05-21) 21 May 1998 (age 25)	12	0	Mitrovica	2024 Turkish Women's Cup
DF	Laureta Temaj	(2002-06-13) 13 June 2002 (age 21)	1	0	VfB Stuttgart	2024 Turkish Women's Cup
DF	Iliriana Vllasalija	(1999-06-16) 16 June 1999 (age 24)	3	0	Ifö Bromölla	v. Bulgaria, 1 December 2023
DF	Merita Bajrami	(2003-08-12) 12 August 2003 (age 20)	1	0	Bazeli	v. Liechtenstein, 16 July 2023

MF	Loreta Lulaj	(2003-06-24) 24 June 2003 (age 20)	14	0	Wacker München	2024 Turkish Women's Cup
MF	Verona Berisha	(2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 (age 24)	9	0	EP-COM Hajvalia	v. Bulgaria, 1 December 2023
MF	Bardha Gjonbalaj	(2005-05-08) 8 May 2005 (age 19)	0	0	Kosova VR Prishtinë	v. North Macedonia, 31 October 2023

FW	Albulena Guri	(2004-12-16) 16 December 2004 (age 19)	6	1	EP-COM Hajvalia	v. Bulgaria, 1 December 2023
FW	Leonora Ejupi	(2000-02-07) 7 February 2000 (age 24)	21	3	Arminia Bielefeld	v. Liechtenstein, 16 July 2023
FW	Jehona Shala	(2001-05-28) 28 May 2001 (age 22)	4	3	Vllaznia Shkodër	v. Liechtenstein, 16 July 2023

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

On 19 January 2017, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group 2 of the 2019 FIFA World Cup qualification, together with Albania, Greece and Malta.^[7] On 6 April 2017, Kosovo made their debut on 2019 FIFA World Cup qualifications with a 3–2 away defeat against Albania.^[13]

FIFA World Cup record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1995	Part of FR Yugoslavia
1999	Part of FR Yugoslavia
2003	Team did not exist
2007	Team did not exist
2011	Not a FIFA member
2015	Not a FIFA member
2019	did not qualify									3	0	0	3	3	12
2023	did not qualify									10	2	1	7	8	35
2027	to be determined									to be determined
Total	—	0/9	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	13	2	1	10	11	47

UEFA European Championship

On 21 February 2019, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part in Group A of the UEFA Euro 2021 qualifying, together with Estonia, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey and 2019 World Cup runners-up finisher Netherlands.^[8] On 30 August 2019, Kosovo made their debut on UEFA European Championship qualifying with a 2–0 home win against Turkey, which was also the team's first-ever competitive win.^[9]

UEFA European Championship record										Qualifying record
Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1993	Part of FR Yugoslavia
1997	Part of FR Yugoslavia
2001	Team did not exist
2005
2009
2013	Not a UEFA member
2017	Could not enter
2022	did not qualify									10	3	1	6	6	29
2025	to be determined									1	0	0	1	0	2
Total	—	0/13	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	11	3	1	7	6	31

UEFA Nations League

Kosovo's Nations League record
First match	Bulgaria 0–0 Kosovo (Plovdiv, Bulgaria; 26 September 2023)
Biggest win	Kosovo 5–1 Bulgaria (Podujevo, Kosovo; 1 December 2023)
Best result	1st in 2023–24

On 2 May 2023, in Nyon, it was decided that Kosovo should be part of League C in Group 5 of the 2023–14 UEFA Nations League, together with Bulgaria and North Macedonia.^[14]

UEFA Nations League record
League phase												Finals
Season	LG	GP	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	P/R	RK	Year	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2023–24	C	5	1st	4	3	1	0	10	2		36	2024	did not enter
Total				4	3	1	0	10	2	—		Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Other tournaments

Kosovo has so far participated in four editions of the Turkish Women's Cup, the first time was in the 2017 edition, when Kosovo lost in all three matches of this tournament against Poland (0–5), which was also her first international match as a FIFA member, against Romania (0–3) and against the host Turkey (2–4). A year later, Kosovo again participated in the 2018 edition, when they lost against France (0–6), Ukraine (0–2), draw against Kazakhstan (1–1) and win against Northern Ireland (1–0).

BFU International Women's Cup

Year	Round	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Squad
2023	Champions	1st	2	2	0	0	2	0	—
Total	Champions	1/1	2	2	0	0	2	0	—

Head-to-head record

As of 27 February 2023

Head-to-head records are included only matches as FIFA member.

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Albania	3	0	1	2	4	7	−3	000.00
Armenia	2	2	0	0	3	1	+2	100.00
Belgium	2	0	0	2	1	13	−12	000.00
Bulgaria	6	5	1	0	14	4	+10	083.33
Estonia	4	4	0	0	9	2	+7	100.00
France	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	000.00
Greece	1	0	0	1	0	6	−6	000.00
Hong Kong	2	2	0	0	8	0	+8	100.00
India	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Kazakhstan	1	0	1	0	1	1	+0	000.00
Latvia	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Liechtenstein	2	2	0	0	2	0	+2	100.00
Luxembourg	1	1	0	0	5	0	+5	100.00
Malta	1	0	0	1	1	3	−2	000.00
Montenegro	1	1	0	0	3	2	+1	100.00
Netherlands	2	0	0	2	0	12	−12	000.00
Norway	2	0	0	2	1	8	−7	000.00
North Macedonia	6	5	1	0	12	3	+9	083.33
Northern Ireland	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	100.00
Poland	3	0	0	3	1	12	−11	000.00
Russia	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8	000.00
Romania	1	0	0	1	0	3	−3	000.00
Slovenia	2	0	0	2	0	8	−8	000.00
Turkey	3	1	1	1	4	4	+0	033.33
Ukraine	2	0	0	2	1	6	−5	000.00
18 Countries	51	25	5	21	77	109	−32	049.02