Just three blocks from Arena Kombëtare, two men stood on café chairs, adjusting the awning as Tirana prepared for a match that could’ve filled the national stadium ten times over. It was just after Thursday lunch, and the city buzzed with anticipation. Albania’s iconic double-headed black eagle flag flew proudly. Alongside it was another banner—familiar yet provocative—bearing the word Autochthonous and depicting the map of “Greater Albania.” That symbol had once turned a football match into a full-blown international crisis back in 2014.
By Friday morning, that controversial flag had been quietly swapped out—likely after a discreet intervention by authorities intent on avoiding anything resembling the chaos that exploded in Belgrade 11 years earlier. Back then, a drone dropped the incendiary map into Partizan Stadium during a heated European Championship qualifier between Albania and Serbia. The fallout reached far beyond the pitch. Relief was palpable the following year when the rematch in Elbasan went off without violence.
But when the 2026 World Cup draw was announced last December, officials from both nations likely sighed heavily. Once again, Albania and Serbia were pitted against each other, reigniting old tensions. Despite a shared and bloody past—especially over Kosovo—their federations hadn’t requested separation in the draw. Conflict may no longer be active, but the challenge of staging these fixtures remains as volatile as ever.
Authorities are leaving little to chance. For Saturday night’s Group K clash, 2,000 security forces, including special units and counter-terror squads, will be deployed. Reports suggest another 500 undercover officers will be spread among the 22,500 spectators. No away fans are permitted. Anti-drone defenses have been activated around the stadium, and authorities have warned that unauthorized devices will be taken down.
Back in 2014, drones were still novelties. That infamous incident, orchestrated by Ismail Morina—a mild-mannered crane operator turned nationalist icon—used a remote craft to disrupt the match. Morina later claimed responsibility, but he wasn’t alone. His mysterious accomplice remains anonymous. Morina’s outspokenness cost him; arrested in 2015 for illegal weapons possession, he was later imprisoned in Croatia and Italy under a Serbian Interpol warrant. He resurfaced in 2023, held aloft by fans at Arena Kombëtare during a match against the Czech Republic. But now, with his social media silent, Morina has vanished. If anyone knows where he is, they aren’t saying. He’s unlikely to risk showing up on matchday.
Nor will other high-profile ultras. The Albanian FA has intentionally avoided selling tickets directly to supporter groups. Instead, they held a random draw from over 200,000 applications and raised prices significantly. Hardcore fans, especially the Tifozat Kuq e Zi group known for their passionate support, see it as an effort to sterilize the atmosphere. They’ve labeled the process an “organized farce” and are planning a separate fan gathering at the Pyramid of Tirana, where a big screen has been approved. On the black market, top-tier tickets have surged past £1,000.
The political subtext goes even deeper. Albania and Serbia are set to co-host the UEFA Under-21 Championship in 2027—a bold venture largely driven by Armand Duka, head of Albania’s FA and a UEFA vice-president. Any disturbances now could jeopardize that collaboration. Tifozat Kuq e Zi, for their part, have made their disapproval of this partnership abundantly clear.
Albania’s training session on Thursday evening was interrupted only by overzealous sprinklers—welcome relief in 30°C heat. Lazio full-back Elseid Hysaj, the only squad member who played in the 2014 chaos, stressed the need for composure. “We must not repeat the past. The coach wants us focused, not panicked,” he said.
Manager Sylvinho, typically light-hearted and laid-back, faces growing pressure. So does Serbia’s Dragan Stojković. With England expected to top Group K, Albania and Serbia are essentially competing for a playoff spot. Their two head-to-heads—including one just four months from now—will likely determine who moves forward.
At 1:40 PM on Friday, the Serbian squad arrived at their hotel under heavy police escort. Albania’s elite RENEA force flanked the buses as they moved from the airport to central Tirana. Everything went smoothly. If that continues through Saturday night, perhaps the ghosts of October 14, 2014, can finally begin to rest.
