Poland vs Albania – 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Play-Off Semi-Final Preview

The 2026 World Cup first-leg qualification Poland vs Albania meet in a UEFA World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday, March 26, 2026, with the winner moving one step closer to the World Cup. UEFA lists the tie at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, and the prize is a place in the Path B final against the winner of Ukraine vs Sweden.

This is a big night for Poland, who are trying to keep their World Cup hopes alive, while Albania enter with belief after a solid qualifying run.

FIFA highlighted Robert Lewandows as the headline figure for Poland’s play-off push, while UEFA’s squad lists show both teams arriving with strong cores and familiar leaders.

Poland vs Albania Match Info, Date, Time, Predictions, Lineups & More

• Match: Poland vs Albania
• Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification – UEFA Play-Off Semi-Final
• Date: Thursday, 26 March 2026
• Venue: PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland
• Next round: Winner vs Ukraine or Sweden in the Path B final on 31 March 2026.

Team News and Analysis

Poland’s official UEFA squad list features Robert Lewandowski, Piotr Zieliński, Matty Cash, Jakub Kiwior, Jan Bednarek, Bartosz Slisz, Sebastian Szymański, Jakub Kamiński and Kamil Grosicki, giving them experience, creativity and plenty of end-product across the pitch. Jan Urban is in charge, and Poland will expect to use home advantage to control the tempo.

• Almost fully fit squad.
• Coach Kasper Hjulmand (or current successor) is expected to field a strong 4-3-3 or 3-4-2-1, with key players like Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Rasmus Højlund, and Andreas Christensen available.

Albania come in with a competitive and well-balanced squad built around Thomas Strakosha, Berat Djimsiti, Elseid Hysaj, Kristjan Asllani, Ylber Ramadani, Nedim Bajrami, Myrto Uzuni and Armando Broja. Sylvinho’s side will likely stay compact, defend in numbers and look for chances in transition.

• No major new injuries reported.
• Coach will likely use a compact 5-4-1 or 4-4-2 to frustrate Denmark and look for counter-attacking opportunities.
• Key players: Eljif Elmas, Enis Bardhi, and Darko Velkovski

The standout battle is Poland’s attacking quality versus Albania’s defensive structure. If Lewandowski gets service from Zieliński and Szymański, Poland should create chances; if Albania can slow the game down and spring Broja or Uzuni in space, they can make this uncomfortable.

That edge for Poland is an inference based on the squad lists and the home venue.

Head-to-Head Record

Poland’s historical superiority is reflected in their goal difference and consistent results across various competitions.

Metric	Poland	Albania
Total Wins	10	2
Draws	3	3
Goals Scored	20	10

Poland vs Albania Starting XI

• Poland Starting XI vs Albania: Kamil Grabara; Matty Cash, Jan Bednarek, Jakub Kiwior, Przemysław Wiśniewski; Bartosz Slisz, Piotr Zieliński, Sebastian Szymański; Kamil Grosicki, Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Kamiński.
• Albania Starting XI vs Poland: Thomas Strakosha; Iván Balliu, Berat Djimsiti, Arlind Ajeti, Mario Mitaj; Ylber Ramadani, Kristjan Asllani, Qazim Laçi; Nedim Bajrami, Armando Broja, Myrto Uzuni.

Key Players to Watch

• Poland: Robert Lewandowski, Piotr Zieliński, Matty Cash, Jakub Kiwior and Sebastian Szymański.
• Albania: Thomas Strakosha, Berat Djimsiti, Kristjan Asllani, Nedim Bajrami, Myrto Uzuni and Armando Broja.

Prediction

Poland should have the stronger overall squad and the home advantage, while Albania have enough talent to stay in the game for long periods.

Still, Poland’s attacking depth and Lewandowski’s presence give them the edge in a knockout tie of this kind.

Our predection is Poland 2-1 Albania. This prediction is an inference based on the official squad lists and the match venue.

Where to Watch Poland vs Albania

• USA: ESPN+, fuboTV, or Paramount+
• UK: BBC or ITV (check listings)
• Denmark: TV2 or Viaplay
• Global: FIFA+ or official UEFA/YouTube channels for highlights