The Red and Blacks took an early lead in the 11th minute when Asllani unleashed a powerful long-range strike into the back of the net. Albania had multiple chances to double their advantage, but Manaj hit the post, while Hoxha, Mehmeti, and Uzuni all missed crucial opportunities. San Marino fought back in the second half, netting an equalizer in the 66th minute. Lazzari, left completely unmarked in the box, capitalised on a cross to beat Dajsinani with a precise finish. Despite pushing hard for a winner in the closing stages, the hosts couldn’t break down the visitors’ stubborn defense.

In the 91st minute, a VAR review for an incident in the penalty area resulted in a penalty for Albania. Asllani converted the spot-kick in the 93rd minute to secure a 2-1 win. With this result, Albania takes all three points and moves to the top of Group C1.

Albania 2-1 San Marino

Asllani 11’, 90+3’ (pen.) / Lazzari 66’

/gj.m/p.s./

In the first half, the Red and Blacks took an early lead in the 4th minute through Rey Manaj, following a corner kick by Asllani.

Etrit Berisha was sent off in the 22nd minute following a misjudged challenge just outside the penalty area.

Walta put the hosts ahead with a 26th-minute free-kick and sealed the win with a second-half goal in the 71st minute against the Red and Blacks.

After three matches, Albania remains the second in the group with 6 points, while Finland takes the top place in the standing with 7 points. /p.s./

Attending the event was President of the Albanian Football Association Armand Duka, representatives of UEFA, institutional partners and media representatives.

Albania leads Europe in football fandom, with 78% of adults expressing interest in the sport. This figure—which far exceeds the 48% European average—marks a sharp increase from 65% in 2016.

In his remarks, President of the Albanian Football Association Armand Duka thanked UEFA and Nielsen Sport for carrying out the study, emphasizing that research like this has played an important role in guiding the Association’s strategies for the development of Albanian football.

According to the report, football is the most practiced sport in Albania with 34% of adults and 41% of children engaging in football activities.

Interest in the Albanian National Team has also grown, rising from 61% in 2016 to 66% today.

This favorable image is fueled by the continuous development of Albanian football, the National Team’s success, modernized sports infrastructure, and ongoing transformational work.

/gj.m/j.p/p.s./

This result denies the Red and Blacks a historic World Cup place.

Albania took the lead through Arbër Hoxha in the 42nd minute, but Poland rallied with goals from Lewandowski (63′) and Zieliński (74′).

For all their pressure and over 3 thousand fans support, Albania failed to hold the lead, losing out on a 2026 World Cup berth.

A painful loss, yet a defining, historic milestone for the National Team, which for the first time reached the semi-finals of the World Cup play-off. /gj.m/r.e/a.f/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today the NCSI report, according to which Albania is assessed for the progress made in strengthening the relevant structures for cybersecurity, developing national policies and strategies, as well as improving coordination mechanisms and response to threats in the digital space.

The NCSI evaluation is based on the analysis of national capacities for managing cyber risks, including the legal and policy framework, the protection of essential services, the management of cyber incidents, as well as capacity development and international cooperation.

Albania’s score reflects the fulfillment of a wide range of indicators related to institutional organization, incident response and preventive measures at the national level.

The NCSI report includes 112 countries and assesses over 40 indicators covering: legal and institutional framework, protection of critical services and personal data, crisis response and management capacities as well as international cooperation. /p.s./

Interreg Europe is the EU’s and most extensive interregional cooperation programme, with a total budget of €394.5 million dedicated to helping national, regional, and local authorities design better public policies through shared experience, peer learning, and improved governance. Albania’s Presidency is significant not only because it marks the programme’s first leadership by a non-EU country, but also because it underscores Albania’s readiness to contribute meaningfully to European policymaking at the strategic level.

The programme focuses on six key areas that reflect Europe’s long-term development priorities: supporting a smarter, more competitive economy; advancing the green transition and climate resilience; improving mobility and connectivity; promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities; strengthening place-based local development; and enhancing governance and cooperation among institutions. Albanian institutions actively contribute to all six fields, demonstrating the country’s commitment to aligning national policies with European priorities.

Since joining Interreg Europe in 2024, Albania has rapidly increased its involvement. To date, 32 projects include Albanian partners, and 19 public institutions—ranging from ministries and municipalities to development agencies—are implementing activities. Implementation continues to progress steadily, with the execution rate expected to reach around 15% by the end of January. Through this participation, Albania gains access to European expertise, strengthens the capacity of its public administration, and deepens its preparation for future management of EU structural funds.

Reflecting on Albania’s leadership role, Eridana Çano, General Director of SASPAC, stated:

“Taking on the Presidency of the Interreg Europe Monitoring Committee is a landmark achievement for Albania and a clear demonstration of our growing role within European cooperation frameworks. We are committed to ensuring strong governance, supporting our beneficiaries, and contributing to a programme that drives innovation, sustainability, and better policymaking across Europe.”

The upcoming Monitoring Committee meeting in Tirana offers a significant opportunity to assess progress, foster knowledge exchange, and further strengthen cooperation across the 36 participating countries—affirming Albania’s position as an active and trusted partner in Europe’s regional development landscape.

This is a forum for the European Union and Albania to discuss and monitor progress in these areas as part of Albania’s EU accession process.

Deputy Minister of Finance Endrit Yzeiraj and the European Commission representative Marc Ibanez co-chaired the meeting.

Yzeiraj highlighted the significance of this forum for Albania’s advancement in the European Union accession process, emphasizing the country’s progress in the framework of opening negotiations for all cluster groups.

He also highlighted the recent developments in the areas the subcommittee covers, including improvement of the legal and institutional framework in trade, industry, customs and taxation, aiming at more transparency, digitalization and approximation with the EU standards.

Yzeiraj praised the concrete achievements within the framework of the EU Growth Plan and the successful completion of the measures planned during the reporting period.

He emphasized that these results are part of the Albanian government’s ongoing efforts to modernize the economy, strengthen institutions and provide concrete benefits to citizens, reaffirming the country’s commitment to continue reforms within the framework of the European integration. /j.p/p.s./

The goals for Albania were scored by Nedim Bajrami, Armando Broja, Arbër Hoxha and Abualnadi (own-goal).

Coach Sylvinho presented this lineup: Dajsinani, Balliu, Mihaj, Gjimshiti, Mitaj, Bajrami, Shehu, Asllani, Asani, Daku, Hoxha.

The guest team took the lead in the 27th minute with the goal scored by Al Rashdan.

Albania’s reaction was immediate. At the 40th minute Abualnadi made an own-goal.

The second half was a real celebration for the red and blacks team.

In the 64th minute, Albania overturned the score with Armando Broja.

In the 75th minute, Arbër Hoxha scored another super goal.

The fourth goal was scored in the 79th minute by Nedim Bajrami.

Jordan managed to narrow the score in the 90th minute with Ali Olwan, but it was too late to change the fate of the match.

The match ended with Albania’s deserved victory 4-2. /k.s/p.s./

This summit is expected to highlight Albania’s significance as a strategic partner for regional stability and European integration.

The event is considered a great success for Albanian diplomacy, demonstrating its ability to organize high-level international activities and to promote the significance of the Western Balkans on the EU agenda.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has considered it a privilege that the upcoming meeting of the European Political Community will take place in Tirana.

In a joint press statement with the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán, after the meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, on November 7, PM Rama stated that, “It will be a great privilege to work as a team to make the coming meeting in Tirana as successful as this one.”

Rama thanked French President Emmanuel Macron, because it was his idea to promote the organization of such a format, which is an old French vision dating back to the 17th-18th centuries.

The meeting could be an opportunity for Albania to show its commitment to advancing in the process of integration and strengthening of democratic institutions.

It is also an opportunity to discuss the future of the region and to promote cooperation with other countries of the European Political Community. /gj.m/r.e/ /a.g/p.s./

The match started with an electrifying atmosphere created by the fans in the stadium after the playing of the national anthems.

In the 5th minute, the away team took the lead while Zinchenko scored the first goal.

Then, Yaremchuk scored a second goal for Ukraine in the 10^th minute.

Thus, the first half-time of the match ended with the score 0-2.

In the 75th minute of the second half, Bajrami scored for Albania from the penalty spot.

In the remaining minutes, the home team tried to score another goal so that to draw, but their efforts failed.

With this loss, the National Team ranks the last in the standing of Group B1 which means that Albania relegates into League C./p.s./