UEFA grants Serbia's request to host Albania game in Leskovac

NYON - European football's top governing body UEFA has granted Serbia's request to host the upcoming game against Albania in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers in Leskovac, southern Serbia.

Initially, the November 11 game was to be played in Belgrade.

In a statement, released on Monday evening, the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) confirmed UEFA had given it the green light to host the match at the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac.

"After the match against England in Belgrade, a decision to change the location was made based on detailed analyses of all aspects related to organising a high-risk sports event, such as the upcoming match against Albania. The key reason is security - not only of the audience, but, above all, of players and all other participants of the match. Such a match carries the highest degree of risk and requires full control to prevent incidents we have already been able to see in matches between the two teams," the FSS said.

For a while now, the FSS has been under close scrutiny by FIFA and UEFA disciplinary bodies due to incidents in the stands, which implies a realistic danger of severe punishments, and even lengthy suspensions, it said.

"An equally important reason is the atmosphere at the Dubocica Stadium and the fact that, at all previous matches played there, Leskovac audiences provided unreserved support to our national team," the FSS also said.