Historic journey of Kosovo impresses global media

The newspaper The New York Times, after its preview article a day before the playoff final for qualification to the 2026 World Cup—which Kosovo lost on Tuesday night to Türkiye at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium—has published another piece focusing on the atmosphere in Pristina.

It analyzes the historic journey of the “Dardanians” since their admission to UEFA and FIFA in 2016, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The American newspaper notes that despite the heartbreak following the defeat—where Kosovo had chances to score—the team will rise again thanks to its quality and the strong support of its fans.

The article also described how some Kosovo fans tried to disturb the sleep of Turkish players, who were staying at a hotel in the city center, hoping it would affect their performance on the field.

“It started with an explosion—or rather dozens of explosions—from two volleys of loud fireworks that lit up the darkness when they were set off near Türkiye’s hotel at 1 a.m. the night before the match,” wrote The New York Times.

The paper further described the “heartbreak of the hosts,” while also praising Turkish stars Kenan Yildiz (of Juventus) and Arda Güler (of Real Madrid).

“Pristina offered warm hospitality to Turkish fans, but that hospitality did not extend to a good night’s sleep for their team. Local supporters tried to use every advantage possible to help their underdog team in this historic attempt to qualify for the World Cup for the first time,” the NYT added.

The article also described the build-up to the match, which began early in the morning at Zahir Pajaziti Square, where workers prepared a large screen for fans who could not fit into the 13,000-seat stadium.

The NYT also highlighted Kosovo’s strong ties with the United States, especially its role during the war and Kosovo’s independence from Serbia in 2008. In Pristina, there is a boulevard named after Bill Clinton, along with his statue, and one of the popular songs sung before kickoff was “Thank you, USA.”

Finally, the newspaper described Kosovo’s performance, noting how a shot by Asllani raised hopes among fans, with crowd noise reaching levels as loud as the earlier fireworks.

In conclusion, The New York Times described Kosovo’s 1–0 loss to Türkiye as “a night of heartbreak,” noting that despite a late comeback attempt, victory was not meant to be. However, the paper emphasized that Kosovo will come back stronger.