Why is this important: Albania sits on five points after four group matches, making the home clash with Latvia crucial to stay in step with group rivals. After June’s draws, the team needs a win to keep its qualification hopes alive.

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.