World Cup
2025-11-16 - Albania vs England
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: World Cup Qualifier
Sunday 16th November 2025 - Kick Off 5pm
This game is live on TV
Albania
They have played in two of the last three European Championships, but Albania have not quite gotten over the line when it comes to reaching the World Cup Finals. 2026 could be different with the team already surpassing expectations by finishing in the Play Off spots in this Qualifying Group ahead of rivals Serbia, although there is still work to do before Albanian fans can book flights for North America in the summer.
There is no doubt that Albania are an improved national football team, but this is also a team that have been floating between League B and League C in the Nations League. That would have meant being third favourites in this Qualifying Group behind England and Serbia, but getting the better of the latter has enabled Albania had an opportunity to finish behind the English and they took that in the 0-1 win over Andorra this past Thursday.
Albania began the World Cup Qualifying campaign with a defeat to England, but they are unbeaten in 8 games in all competitions since then and have won 5 in a row. Home form has been important for Albania who have lost just 1 of the last 6 games played in front of the home fans.
England
There is a real possibility that some big names are going to be left out of the England squad when they travel to the World Cup Finals next summer and that means pressure on those involved to impress the manager. Thomas Tuchel has to be given credit for motivating the players to keep standards high, although the pressure will really be on next summer when the manager will be judged by how England perform at the World Cup.
One of the concerns for England fans is the lack of high level competition faced by the team over the last sixteen months. This World Cup Qualifying Group could have been potentially awkward, but England have to expect to face sterner challenges than Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in North America.
Englad have won 13 of 15 games played in all competitions since losing the Euro 2024 Final against Spain, although both exceptions have been defeats to Greece and Senegal. Both setbacks have also been in games hosted by England who have won all 6 away games played in all competitions since the last major international tournament.
Thomas Tuchel is likely going to make some changes to the starting eleven for this Qualifier, although he is trying to build consistency and so plenty of key players should at least begin the game.
Head to Head
England beat Albania 2-0 at home earlier in this World Cup Qualifying Group and they have won all 7 matches against this opponent.
In 3 previous visits to Albania, England have won 0-2, 1-3 and 0-2 with the most recent being in the 2022 World Cup Qualifying Group.
Prediction
This is a dead rubber for both teams who have achieved what they wanted out of this World Cup Qualifying Group with a fixture to spare.
You have to wonder if Albania are as focused as they will need to be having only just clinched 2nd place in the section on Thursday.
They will be motivated to challenge themselves against a top tier nation like England, but Albania will also be thinking ahead to the Play Off ties to reach the World Cup Finals and so will not want anyone to be suspended. That could result in a lack of intensity that may be needed and that gives England the edge.
Recent performances have been improved and the English players still need to make sure they are impressing Thomas Tuchel, who will have big decisions to make next May.
Those that will come into the starting eleven will want to show what they can do and that may mean England have a bit more motivation to close out this Group with yet another win.
The defensive shape has remained very strong in this Group and England can win another Qualifier with a clean sheet, which looks a big price here.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Albania 0-2 England
