The Republic of Ireland kick off their UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday, 24 September 2026, when Heimir Hallgrimsson takes his team to Pristina for a clash against Kosovo. It is the first time the national team will be in competitive action since failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, but a huge challenge awaits against an improving team on the international stage.
Match Details
| Date | Thursday, 24 September 2026 |
| KO Time | 7:45 PM |
| Venue | Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo |
| Competition | UEFA Nations League B, Group 3 |
| Kosovo Odds | 2.75 |
| Draw Odds | 3.2 |
| Republic of Ireland Odds | 2.75 |
Kosovo — Form & Key Players
Franco Foda will hope for a strong showing in the UEFA Nations League this year as Kosovo target promotion. The Dardanians currently sit in their highest ranking in history (78th), and confidence would have been gained from their charge to this summer’s World Cup, where they won four of their eight fixtures before exiting in the playoff round.
Kosovo’s form in 2026 has been reliable, with wins over Slovakia and Andorra and eight goals in four internationals, showcasing their attacking prowess. Arijanet Muric is a key player for the national team, with the goalkeeper averaging 3.72 saves per 90 for Sassuolo since the start of last season.
Vedat Muriqi is the crucial player at the opposite end of the field, scoring a national team record of 32 goals in 68 internationals. Home advantage has been a key strength for Kosovo, avoiding defeat in four of their five internationals and conceding just 0.4 goals per 90.
Republic of Ireland — Form & Key Players
Hallgrimsson’s Republic of Ireland will be back in competitive action for the first time since heartbreakingly missing out on a place in this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Under the head coach, the team is expected to progress, with promotion to League A as the main goal to continue the upward trajectory ahead of EURO 2028. Ireland have been difficult to beat since the October international break last year, winning five of their last eight, and avoiding defeat in all fixtures over that period in regulation time.
Caoimhin Kelleher will be a crucial player in the Irish goal, and his form this season has been strong with two clean sheets in five Premier League appearances for Brentford.
Troy Parrott has become a cult hero among Irish fans, scoring six goals in his last 11 international appearances. The striker has enjoyed a reliable start to his career in Spain with Real Betis, scoring twice in five starts.
Prediction & Betting Tips
Both Kosovo and the Republic of Ireland will be aiming to get their Nations League campaigns off to strong starts this week. However, since neither side has been in competitive action since March, a cagey affair is expected in the high-stakes matchup.
Ireland’s fixtures have typically been low-scoring, with three of their previous four seeing under 2.5 goals. This trend is also supported by Kosovo’s recent results, with no more than two goals being scored in five of their last six competitive outings. Therefore, under 2.5 match goals this week at odds of 1.6 is an appealing selection at TonyBet.
At a higher price, the home dominance of Kosovo could make them an interesting value play at 2.75. The nation has avoided defeat in four of their last five in Pristina. Meanwhile, Ireland have been vulnerable in their away matches, winning just once in their previous five.
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