Albania's Mirlind Daku, left, fights for the ball against Serbia's Nikola Milenković during a World Cup qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia at Air Albania stadium in Tirana, Albania.
Albania 0-0 Serbia, WC Qualifiers: Manaj Miss Penalty Sees Balkan Rivals Play Out Goalless Draw
Albania and Serbia drew 0-0 in the latest chapter of a charged rivalry rooted in deep historical and ethnic tensions between the Balkan neighbors. Serbia's Dorde Petrovic saved a penalty kick by Rey Manaj in the best chance of the game, which was played without Serbian fans as determined by UEFA for security concerns. Albania is second in Group K behind England with four points after three games.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrović, center, controls the ball in front of Albania's Elseid Hysaj during a World Cup qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia at Air Albania stadium in Tirana, Albania.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Albania's goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha punches the ball away during a World Cup qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia at Air Albania stadium in Tirana, Albania.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Serbia's and Albania's players battle for head ball during a World Cup qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia at Air Albania stadium in Tirana, Albania.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Serbia's head coach Dragan Stojković, center, reacts during a World Cup qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia at Air Albania stadium in Tirana, Albania.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Serbia's Aleksa Terzić, right, fights for the ball against Albania's Elseid Hysaj during the World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia, at Air Albania stadium, in Tirana.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Serbia's Dusan Vlahović, top, jumps for the ball over Albania's Mario Mitaj during the World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia, at Air Albania stadium, in Tirana.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Serbia's Nikola Milenković, left, jumps for the ball against Albania's Rey Manaj during the World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia, at Air Albania stadium, in Tirana.
FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers: Albania vs Serbia
| Photo: AP/Vlasov Sulaj
Albania's players pose for a photograph ahead of the World Cup 2026 group K qualifying soccer match between Albania and Serbia, at Air Albania stadium, in Tirana.
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