In-depth Analysis
The 0-6 defeat to Germany in their most recent 2026 World Cup qualifying match was a major shock for Slovakia and clearly exposed the team’s current limitations. It was not just a heavy loss on the scoreboard, but also a clear sign that Slovakia are still going through a transitional period, lacking consistency and not yet showing enough composure when facing higher-quality opponents.
Heading into the first leg of the World Cup 2026 play-off, Slovakia naturally understand that they must make full use of their home advantage if they want to build an edge before a potentially risky away trip in the return leg. A home win would provide an important platform for their hopes of getting past Kosovo. However, based on the current balance between the two sides, that will certainly not be an easy task for the hosts.
On the other hand, Kosovo have shown a fairly positive face in recent weeks. According to the statistics, Franco Foda’s men are unbeaten in their last five 2026 World Cup qualifying matches, recording three wins and two draws. Most notably, they managed to beat Sweden twice — a team widely regarded as a difficult opponent. Those results underline Kosovo’s clear progress and show that they are not an easy side to break down.
Not only have Kosovo been solid at home, but they have also shown plenty of resilience on the road. More specifically, they have won four of their last six away matches in official competitions. That record should give Foda’s players even more confidence ahead of what is expected to be a challenging trip to Slovakia.
Overall, despite playing away from home, Kosovo still have enough reasons to believe they can come away with a positive result. With Slovakia still failing to inspire much confidence in terms of both form and mentality, the visitors have a strong chance of avoiding defeat. In fact, a draw on Slovak soil is a very realistic outcome to consider.