Albania - Belarus

Albania host Belarus at the Air Albania Stadium on 26 September 2026 for their UEFA Nations League C matchday 1 encounter. The home side faces a tactical challenge in midfield, as they must navigate the absence of Kristjan Asllani, Qazim Laci, and Juljan Shehu due to injury. The expected XI for Albania relies on the defensive stability of Berat Djimsiti and Ardian Ismajli, while Mirlind Daku is tasked with leading the attack. Belarus arrive with a balanced side featuring Max Ebong and Valeri Gromyko in the engine room, aiming to disrupt the hosts' rhythm early in the group stage.

These two nations share a competitive history, most recently meeting in the 2020 UEFA Nations League where they traded victories. Albania claimed a 3-2 win in their last encounter on 18 November 2020, following a 2-0 success for the visitors earlier that year. With no recent form to lean on, both sides will look to establish momentum immediately. The match serves as a pivotal test for both squads to assert their standing in the group, with the tactical battle between Albania's midfield rotation and the Belarusian defensive structure likely to define the outcome.