Stojkovic: We have strength, quality to reach World Cup qualification playoffs

STARA PAZOVA - The head coach of the Serbia men's national football team, Dragan Stojkovic, said on Monday his team's upcoming game against Albania was crucial in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and noted that his players had the quality to achieve the objective of reaching the qualification playoffs.

Serbia host Albania in Leskovac, southern Serbia, on October 11, and face Andorra away on October 14.

Responding to questions from reporters at a press conference in Stara Pazova near Belgrade, Stojkovic said he believed Serbia would be playing at the World Cup.

"It is up to us, it is all in our hands. We know the crucial importance of the match against Albania. It opens up a path to March next year and the playoffs, and we have the strength and the quality to achieve that objective," Stojkovic said.

England are on top of the table in qualifying Group K with 15 points, and are followed by Albania with eight, Serbia with seven, Latvia with four and Andorra with zero points.

The winner of the group will secure a direct World Cup berth, with the second-placed team to go to the playoffs.

"Albania are an excellent, strong team, they are a major rival to us in terms of football," Stojkovic said, adding that he expected the best outcome for his team.

Several of Stojkovic's players have injury problems ahead of the Albania and Andorra games.