Kosovo vs Sweden Prediction for 9 September 2025 - Football

🔊 How will the match unfold between one of the favorites and the main underdog in Group B of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers? Kosovo's national team could have avoided this status, but a lackluster defeat by Switzerland set things straight. Sweden had strong odds of securing 3 points until the 90th minute against Slovenia. Now, they face a trip to Pristina at the "Fadil Vokrri" stadium, where the Kosovans remain unbeaten for 5 matches. Can the "Blue and Yellow" end this streak and close in on group leaders Switzerland? We'll break down the odds for this outcome and other events in our editorial's prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 The national teams have a sparse head-to-head record, with only two matches played. This isn't the first time they've been drawn into the same World Cup qualifying group—the last occurrence was in 2021. On that occasion, Sweden emerged victorious twice with a scoreline of 3-0.

Kosovo Team Overview

Kosovo enjoyed a successful run since the last Nations League, suffering only two defeats in eight matches, including playoff games for promotion to League A. Under Franco Foda's guidance, they extended their winning streak to five games in friendlies. However, this momentum was halted in their opening World Cup 2026 qualifier, where they faced Switzerland in Basel and were defeated 4-0. The match was decided in the first half, with all goals scored before the break. The hosts dominated from the outset, seizing control with 61% possession compared to Kosovo's 39%, and Kosovo failed to register a single shot on target. In the second half, the Swiss maintained possession without allowing Kosovo any significant chances, limiting them to just one shot on target with an expected goals (xG) of 0.36.

Kosovo's usually effective attack struggled to make an impact against Switzerland. However, their effort couldn't be faulted. The standout attacking player was the experienced forward Vedat Muriqi, who matched Switzerland's Breel Embolo for shots towards goal. The highest-rated Kosovo player was right-back Mergim Vojvoda, with a match rating of 6.4. He contributed both defensively and offensively, completing 100% of his dribbles, delivering 6 out of 9 passes in the final third, and winning 6 out of 10 ground duels.

Sweden Team Overview

After failing to qualify for Euro 2024, the Swedish national team bounced back in the Nations League. In League C, Jon Dahl Tomasson's squad remained unbeaten, drawing only once, and comfortably secured promotion. In 2025, the "Blue and Yellow" played only friendlies, achieving three wins and suffering one unexpected defeat to Luxembourg (0-1). These matches were high-scoring affairs, with an aggregate score of 12-5. Sweden also kicked off their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign with a thrilling draw away to Slovenia (2-2). Despite enjoying 59% possession, Tomasson's side was outshot (6:9 total shots and 2:4 on target) but had a better expected goals tally (1.17 xG compared to Slovenia's 0.56 xG).

All of Sweden's stars made their mark in the match against Slovenia. Anthony Elanga scored the opening goal and was a constant threat in the opponent's box, completing 23 accurate passes in the final third. Viktor Gyökeres was less involved offensively, not registering a single shot, but provided an assist for Yasin Ayari. The Brighton midfielder was named Man of the Match, contributing a goal, an assist to Elanga, and two long-range efforts, tying with Slovenia's Andraž Šporar for the most attempts from distance.

Latest news

Kosovo

🎙 "We aren't afraid, but we do have respect because we know Sweden's strength. We hope to achieve something great. We're in a very strong group with Switzerland, Sweden, and Slovenia, and we're not the favorites, but football has often witnessed underdogs triumph," shared Kosovo's head coach Franco Foda, expressing his expectations for the upcoming match.

💰 Kosovo currently ranks 95th in the FIFA rankings, having moved up from 97th following their success in the Nations League. The total market value of their players reaches €72.30 million, with an average age of 27 years. The most valuable players hail from the top five European leagues, including Amir Rrahmani (€12 million, Napoli), Leon Avdullahu (€10 million, Hoffenheim), and his club teammate Fisnik Asllani (€10 million).

Sweden

🎙 Alexander Isak, the headline-grabbing figure of the recent transfer window, spent the entire match against Slovenia on the bench. Sweden's head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson spoke about the striker's physical condition after his recent move from Newcastle to Liverpool. "Of course, his form is what I mentioned the other day; typically, in preseason, you play many games and have lots of training, but that's not the case here. Can he play 90 minutes? Certainly not. Are we going to do something foolish with Alex? No, we won't do anything foolish with Alex. So, yes, we have a plan, but he's smiling and happy to be here," Tomasson stated at the press conference.

💰 Compared to the previous FIFA rankings update, Sweden have dropped one place and are now ranked 29th. The total market value of their squad is €444.8 million, which is €372 million more than their upcoming World Cup qualifying opponent. The most valuable players hail from the Premier League: Alexander Isak (€120 million, Liverpool), Viktor Gyökeres (€75 million, Arsenal), and Anthony Elanga (€42 million, Newcastle).

⚽️ Goal Prediction

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Both national teams are quite prolific, but Sweden hold a significant edge in total goals over their last 10 matches, with an average of 3.6 compared to 2.8. This difference is undoubtedly due to the stellar attack of the "Blue and Yellows," and as we saw in the match against Slovenia, their midfield isn't far behind. However, such figures wouldn't be possible without somewhat disorganized defenses on both sides. This is especially true for Kosovo, who have conceded an average of 1.4 goals over their last 10 games across all competitions. We believe betting on the visitors' potent offense is a wise choice. Our pick: Sweden total goals over 1.5.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Both squads feature players who excel in aerial duels, with standout targets in each lineup. For Kosovo, it's Vedat Muriqi (194 cm), while Sweden have Viktor Gyökeres (187 cm). Of course, we can't forget about Alexander Isak; although heading isn't his forte, his 193 cm frame means he draws attention in the opponent's penalty area. Sweden have frequently capitalized on these strengths in recent matches, with over 9.5 corners recorded in 7 of their last 9 official games. Considering all these factors, a bet on total corners over 9 seems well-founded.

The betting odds for Kosovo have dropped significantly since the first match, yet they are still far from being favorites. The class difference between the upcoming opponents is evident, even when comparing their squad values. Sweden are one of the main contenders for the top spot in the group, but a recent draw has slightly complicated their tournament prospects. In this upcoming clash, a win is crucial for the Swedes to keep Switzerland within reach. Although Kosovo are playing at home, historical head-to-heads suggest that being the away team shouldn't faze Jon Dahl Tomasson's side.

Moreover, the hosts face a significant setback with the absence of central defender Amir Rrahmani, whose height would have been crucial against the powerful Scandinavian forwards. We sense that the game might unfold similarly to their defeat against Switzerland, so we predict a 3-0 victory for the visitors. Our bet is on a Sweden win.