The match, scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m., will be Albania’s third outing in the competition and a key test of their ambitions in the group.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Albania head coach Rolando Maran described Finland as a disciplined and well-organized side capable of making life difficult for any opponent, stressing that his team would need to deliver a strong performance to secure a positive result.

Maran said Finland and Belarus, another of Albania’s Group C1 rivals, employ different tactical approaches but share an ability to stay compact and restrict space.

The two nations have met seven times, with Finland holding a slight historical advantage. The Finns have won four of those encounters, Albania have claimed two victories and one match ended in a draw. Finland also lead the overall scoring record 10-7.

With the race for top spot in Group C1 beginning to take shape, Albania will be looking to leave Helsinki with a result that reinforces their position at the summit of the standings.

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The match will mark Italian coach Rolando Maran’s competitive debut in charge of Albania. After several days of preparations, Maran said he had been encouraged by the players’ commitment and work ethic but did not reveal his starting lineup.

“This is the start of my adventure as Albania coach. It is an emotion that makes you proud and pushes you to give more, and that motivates me,” Maran said.

Albania are targeting a positive start and first place in the group. Captain Berat Gjimshiti said the team also aims to secure another appearance at the European Championship.

“We want first place and the chance to qualify for the European Championship for a third time. That is the objective and this is the right path,” Gjimshiti said.

Maran will be without midfielder Qazim Laçi, who picked up an injury a day before the match. Adrion Pajaziti, Luis Hasa, Sabah Kerjota and goalkeeper Simon Simoni are also unavailable for the game, while Kristjan Asllani has recovered and is available.

Armando Broja, Nedim Bajrami and Jasir Asani are also absent from the squad, while goalkeeper Etrit Berisha has returned to the national team after a two-year absence.

Belarus arrive in Tirana unbeaten in their last six matches, providing an early test for Maran’s side.

Albania will play three more Nations League matches after Saturday’s game: against San Marino on Sept. 29, Finland on Oct. 3 and San Marino again on Oct. 6.

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Albania’s campaign will kick off in September 2026, with the group stage opening match scheduled between September 24-26 and the second match set for September 27-29.

The third fixture will take place from September 30 to October 3, followed by the fourth match from October 4-6. The fifth and sixth games are scheduled for November 12-14 and November 15-17, respectively.

Albania is currently ranked 63rd in the FIFA standings, while Finland is 75th, Belarus 98th, and San Marino 210th.

Under UEFA rules, group winners are promoted to League B, while runners-up may enter the playoff stage depending on the final format. Albania’s objective is clear: to top the group and return to League B, while securing an alternative path toward qualification for EURO 2028.

The Nations League remains a key competition for European national teams, directly influencing UEFA rankings and additional qualification routes for major tournaments.

A notable change for this edition is the revised international calendar. For the first time, UEFA has combined the September and October windows into a single extended period, with four matches to be played from September 24 to October 6 and the final two matches from November 12-17. The new format aims to reduce travel demands on players and follows extensive consultations with European clubs.

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The Red and Blacks held their first training session on Monday afternoon.

The communication department at the Albanian Football Federation said that the players participating in today’s training session were: Thomas Strakosha, Elhan Kastrati, Alen Sherri, Enea Mihaj, Mario Mitaj, Arlind Ajeti, Andi Hadroj, Adrion Pajaziti, Ylber Ramadani, Elseid Hysaj, Ivan Balliu, Taulant Seferi, Marash Kumbulla, Myrto Uzuni, Adrian Ismajli, Mirlind Daku, Kristjan Asllani, Amir Abrashi, Jasir Asani and Ernest Muçi.

Key players Arbër Hoxha, Qazim Laçi and Nedim Bajrami are expected to join the rest of the squad this evening.

The next training session is set to take place on Tuesday

Albania standings UEFA Nations League, League B Group 1:

Georgia 6 points (6:1)

Albania 3 points (2:2)

Czechia 3 points (4:4)

Ukraine 0 points (2:7)

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Speaking to the press ahead of the match alongside midfielder Ylber Ramadani, head coach Sylvinho stated that Albania won’t back down at what’s expected to be a highly-fought Nations League clash tomorrow evening.

“These players are fired up. They come to the national team with a hunger to perform. When a player is passionate, they can dig deep. I’m confident in their drive,” Sylvinho stated, adding: We play to win. There’s no other result on our minds and we will fight for every inch. Expect us to fight hard from the first whistle.”

“Ukraine is strong, fast, and dangerous, but we’re prepared to battle for every inch. We’ll play with heart and determination,” he noted.

The Red and Blacks must win to stay competitive in a fiercely contested group that also includes Czech Republic and Georgia, where every point matters.

Albania will play against Ukraine at Prague’s Epet Arena at 20:45 hrs on September 7. Three days later, September 10, the national side will host Georgia at Air Albania stadium at 20:45 hrs.

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Albania’s Red and Blacks were drawn in Group B1, where they will take on Czech Republic, Ukraine and Georgia.

Duka said the group was balanced, adding that he wouldn’t have wished to face rivals like the Czech Republic again.

“The draw has pitted us against teams of same level, which is mostly the case with the Group B, since the Nations League has been designed that way. I think our group is balanced and we expect interesting results. I am not particularly happy to take on the Czech Republic side again. I very much hope to see same performance and results like the ones we recorded during the EURO qualifiers tournament,” he said.

The UEFA Nations League draw took place today in Paris. The Albanian national side were drawn in League B and group B1. Albania will play against Czech Republic, Ukraine and Georgia.

The men’s UEFA Nations League sees the 54 UEFA members split into four leagues based on their results in the 2022-23 competition.

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