Why is this important: About 4,400 seats—20% of the stadium—will remain closed under FIFA sanctions for the June match incidents against Serbia. After a 1–1 draw in Riga, Albania needs a home win to bolster its five points from four games and strengthen its World Cup qualification bid.

Why is this important: Spectators in the second round pre-qualifier hurled slogans like “A good Albanian is a dead Albanian,” “Gas chamber for Albanians” and “Pure Macedonia,” stark reminders of deep ethnic divides in a country where Albanians constitute nearly one third of the 1.8 million population. Such hate speech on a global sporting stage threatens to inflame tensions and tarnish North Macedonia’s multiethnic fabric.

Why is this important: The Albania–Serbia rivalry carries political and emotional weight. Following the infamous drone incident in Belgrade in 2014 that halted a match between the two nations, Albanian authorities are taking no chances. Public safety and crowd control are a top priority, as thousands of fans are expected to fill the stadium and surrounding areas.

Why this is important: What was supposed to be a fair and secure ticketing system has turned into a public scandal. While genuine fans were left empty-handed after an “electronic lottery,” resellers have hijacked the process. The situation raises serious concerns about FSHF’s transparency and ability to manage high-profile events.

Why this is important: The match, set for June 7 at the National Arena in Tirana, is not just a pivotal moment in the national team’s qualification journey—it’s also a high-stakes event requiring tight security and strict crowd control. Interest has reached record-breaking levels, underscoring both the sporting significance and sensitive political context of the Albania-Serbia rivalry.