Romania coach ‘reveals’ conversation with Franco Foda after draw
Express newspaper
21/11/2025 21:30
Kosovo national team coach Franco Foda has told his Romanian counterpart that he wants to face them in the 2026 World Cup play-off final, according to Romanian media outlet Golazo.
The two national team coaches were present at the draw held in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Kosovo was in the third pot in the “play-off” draw, after finishing second in Group B of the regular qualifications, behind Switzerland.
In the semifinals, the “Dardans” will play Slovakia away.
Meanwhile, Romania secured the play-offs after being among the four nations that won their groups in the Nations League and were in pot four for the draw.
Romania plays the semifinal match away to Turkey.
If Kosovo triumphs over Slovakia and Romania defeats Turkey, the potential Kosovo – Romania final for World Cup qualification would be played on March 31 at “Fadil Vokrri”.
80-year-old Lucescu spoke to the media outlet “Golazo” and emphasized that 59-year-old Foda told him that he would like them to play the final together.
“Foda wished me luck and told me that he would like us to qualify and play in the final with him, with Kosovo. I told him: ‘I hope this time you will play until the end! Or are you planning to leave the field again?’ He didn’t tell me anything,” Lucescu said, according to the Romanian media outlet.
Kosovo and Romania do not have a good history of confrontations in recent years.
These two national teams have faced each other four times so far, once in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and once in the Nations League.
Romania has three victories (one with an official result) against Kosovo, while another match ended in a draw.
In last November’s Nations League match, played in Bucharest, Kosovo players left the field of play after chants of “Serbia, Serbia” were heard in the stadium./Express newspaper/