Albania–Serbia match draws 50,000 ticket requests in one week

Just one week after the ticket reservation process opened, 50,000 applications have been submitted for the Albania–Serbia match, according to official data from the e-bileta platform. The match, scheduled for June 7 at the National Arena in Tirana, has generated overwhelming interest from fans.

Why is this important: This is not just another football match. The Albania–Serbia rivalry has deep political and emotional undertones. The last time the two sides faced off in 2014 in Belgrade, the game was abandoned after a drone carrying the “Greater Albania” flag with images of Ismail Qemali and Adem Jashari flew over the pitch, sparking chaos, violence against Albanian players, and a diplomatic incident. The Albanian team was barricaded in the locker rooms for hours before being escorted to the airport under heavy security.

Context: With each applicant allowed to reserve up to 4 tickets, the demand would require 200,000 seats — nearly ten times the 22,500 capacity of the National Arena. For UEFA events, only 21,500 seats are typically sold due to safety and organizational constraints.

Adding to the intensity is the fact that Serbian fans will not be present in the stands in Tirana — a decision likely made in light of security concerns. That leaves an all-Albanian crowd for one of the most politically charged games in the World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

Vučić stirs the rivalry: Just hours after attending the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić inflamed the atmosphere back home. Speaking at a party rally in Niš, he publicly called on the national team to defeat Albania — sending a pointed message to coach Dragan Stojković, a vocal supporter of Vučić’s party.

“I saw him earlier and he’s here — please give a big hand to our coach Dragan Stojković. A legend of Niš, ‘Piksi’ did not hide like others and came here tonight. In June, you play there, against Albania — go and beat them!”

Cameras caught Stojković smiling silently as the crowd responded with tepid applause.

What next: The ticket application window remains open until May 30. After that, a random draw will determine the lucky applicants, who will receive a unique payment link by June 2 for the final purchase of their electronic tickets.

The Albania–Serbia match kicks off at 20:45 on June 7 in Tirana. It will be the third Group K fixture in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup — and perhaps the most intense.