 | |||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Kuqezinjtë (The Red and Blacks) Shpresat e Shqipërisë (Albania's Hopes) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit (FSHF) | ||||||||||||||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||||||||||||||
| Head coach | Alban Bushi | ||||||||||||||
| Captain | Feta Fetai | ||||||||||||||
| Mostcaps | Shaqir Tafa (24) | ||||||||||||||
| Top scorer | Odise Roshi (11) | ||||||||||||||
| Home stadium | Elbasan Arena Loro Boriçi Stadium | ||||||||||||||
| FIFA code | ALB | ||||||||||||||
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| First international | |||||||||||||||
 Yugoslavia 1–0Albania  (Thessaloniki,Greece; 25 June 1976)[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Biggest win | |||||||||||||||
Albania 7–1Romania  (Tirana,Albania; April 12, 1978)[2] | |||||||||||||||
| Biggest defeat | |||||||||||||||
 Germany 8–0Albania  (Cologne,Germany; March 23, 2001) | |||||||||||||||
| UEFA U-21 Championship | |||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 1984) | ||||||||||||||
| Best result | Quarter-finals, 1984 | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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TheAlbania national under-21 football team is the national under-21football team ofAlbania and is controlled by theFootball Association of Albania. The team competes in theUEFA European Under-21 Championship, which is held every two years.
Following the realignment ofUEFA's youth competitions in 1976, the Albanian under-21 team was formed.
Albania Under-21 participated in theBalkan Youth Championship as a succeder[clarification needed] ofUnder-23 team, in the 1976–78 and 1981 competitions, winning both with finals againstRomania andBulgaria. Notably in 1978, the second leg of the final match against Romania was characterized by a large Albania's win 7–1, which is the largest win ever recorded by Albania U-21.[3]
In 1978 aCompetition for the European Under-21 teams was created but the Albania Under-21s didn't participated in first 3 editions and debuted in the competition in the1984s Championship where they managed to qualify for the first and only time in their history although they were competing for the first time in such tournament. The historic event was the first time any Albanian squad qualified for aEurope orWorld Championship, and only the fifth time any Albanian squad qualified for the major championships. To this day the team that qualified for that competition are still regarded as the most successful team in Albanian football history. In the qualifying stage they were drawn in a very tough group which included theWest Germany,Turkey andAustria. Albania U21 managed to qualify without losing a single game winning both home-away versus Austria (1–2 away & 3–0 home) & Turkey (both 1–0) and managing two very good draws against one of the biggest and best footballing nations, West Germany (both 1–1), heading the group with 10 points, 1 above West Germany. Albania played the quarter finals againstItaly, against which it lost twice 0–1 both home and away as Italy advanced to the semifinals losing againstEngland, the eventual champions.
In the1986 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Poland and Greece, and could not qualify. In the1988 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last in group after Spain, Romania and Austria. In the1990 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last in group after Sweden, England and Poland. In the1992 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship managed to precede Iceland as last in the group, but was preceded by Czechoslovakia, France and Spain. In thequalifiers of the1994 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania preceded bottom team Republic of Ireland, but was preceded by Spain, Germany and Denmark.
In the1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification Albania did not participate. In thequalifiers of the1998 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind Armenia, but had to trail in the final rankings Germany, Ukraine, and Portugal. In thequalifiers of the2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania trailed Greece, Norway, Georgia, Latvia, and Slovenia and closed at the bottom of the group. In thequalifiers of the2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came again last behind England, Greece, Germany, and Finland.
In thequalifiers of the2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania had the best result sinceEuro '84, when it had won the group, as it left two teams behind (Republic of Ireland and Georgia), but was preceded by Switzerland and Russia, and thus failed to qualify to the main tournament. In thequalifiers of the2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left behind itself Kazakhstan, but was preceded by Denmark, Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, and Georgia. In thequalifiers of the2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in a 3 teams group, Albania came last behind Spain and Slovakia and failed to qualify.
In thequalifiers of the2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania was fourth out of 6 teams in the final ranking, leaving behind the Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan, but trailing behind Italy, Croatia and Greece. In thequalifiers of the2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania left again behind Azerbaijan but trailed Scotland, Belarus, and Austria in the final rankings. In thequalifiers of the2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Albania came last trailing behind Russia, Portugal, Poland, and Moldova. However, as a consolation for the first time an Albanian footballer,Armando Sadiku was the top goalscorer of the group. Albania drew in Russia against the famous hosts during that tournament, a noticeable fact. Albania were also able to draw against Portugal inDurrës with 2–2 during this qualifying. Albania suffered close loses against Poland inGrudziądz with 4–3 and to Russia with 0–1 in Durrës respectively.
In thequalification inGroup 4 Albania would finish in last place. They were able to beatHungary with 0–2 away from home.[4] Albania would also beat notableAustria with 1–3 away from home in theLiebenauer Stadium inGraz.[5] As a fact Albanian won for the first time in their history more matches away than at home in an Under-21 qualification. In the following2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification Group 4. Albania finished fourth leavingHungary andLiechtenstein but trailing behindGreece,Israel and eventual Group winnersPortugal. securing 12 points in the progress. Albania were able to win three matches in this qualifying. They beatLiechtenstein with 2-0 and away from home with the same result. As well as beatingHungary inElbasan with 2–1 in fact.[6] They drew three times once againstIsrael inElbasan with 1-1 and away toHungary with 2-2 and in the derby at home againstGreece with 0:0.[7]
The event was classified as aU-23/21 tournament where at time were played three competitions,1972,1974 &1976.
| UEFA European Under-21 Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification record | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
 1978 | Did not enter | did not enter | |||||||||||||
| 1980 | |||||||||||||||
| 1982 | |||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Quarter-finals | 6th | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
| 1986 | Did not qualify | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | ||||||||
| 1988 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | |||||||||
| 1990 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 8 | |||||||||
| 1992 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 13 | |||||||||
 1994 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 18 | |||||||||
 1996 | did not enter | ||||||||||||||
 1998 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 19 | |||||||||
 2000 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 21 | |||||||||
 2002 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 19 | |||||||||
| 2004 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 10 | |||||||||
 2006 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 27 | |||||||||
 2007 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||
 2009 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 | |||||||||
 2011 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 20 | |||||||||
 2013 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 | |||||||||
 2015 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 15 | |||||||||
 2017 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 20 | |||||||||
 2019 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 17 | |||||||||
  2021 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 21 | |||||||||
 2023 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 17 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 17 | |||||||||
 2027 | Qualified as co-hosts | Qualified as co-hosts | |||||||||||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 169 | 38 | 37 | 94 | 157 | 316 | |||
Note: The year of the tournament represents the year in which it ends.
v Albania| 23 March 2023 (2023-03-23)Friendly | Azerbaijan | 1–2 | Albania | Antalya |
| 15:00 | Cəfərov 46' | Report | S. Shpendi 43' Pajaziti 51' | Stadium:Antalya Stadium |
v Albania| 27 March 2023 (2023-03-27)Friendly | Poland | 2–0 | Albania | Antalya |
| 15:00 | Włodarczyk 11',81' | Report | Stadium:Antalya Stadium |
v
Bulgaria| 20 June 2023 (2023-06-20)Friendly | Albania | 3–1 | Bulgaria | Elbasan |
| 18:30 | S. Shpendi 9' Kurtulan 13'Berisha 50' | Report | Stoyanov 23' | Stadium:Elbasan Arena |
v Albania| 8 September 2023 (2023-09-08)2025 UEFA Q | Armenia | 1–2 | Albania | Abovyan |
| 17:00 | Tarakhchyan 86' | Report | S. Shpendi 28' Rexhepi 37' | Stadium:Abovyan City Stadium Attendance: 1,200 Referee:Radoslav Gidzhenov (Bulgaria) |
v Romania| 12 September 2023 (2023-09-12)2025 UEFA Q | Albania | 3–2 | Romania | Elbasan |
| 18:30 | C. Shpendi 63' Berisha 71'Pajaziti 88' | Report | Grameni 47' Borza 58' | Stadium:Elbasan Arena Attendance: 713 Referee:Bulat Saryev (Kazakhstan) |
v Albania| 13 October 2023 (2023-10-13)2025 UEFA Q | Finland | 4–1 | Albania | Turku |
| 17:00 | Liimatta 4',6',48' Ylitolva 90+6' | Report | Pajaziti 80' | Stadium:Veritas Stadion Attendance: 2,247 Referee:Maria Sole Caputi (Italy) |
v
Montenegro| 17 October 2023 (2023-10-17)2025 UEFA Q | Albania | 2–0 | Montenegro | Rrogozhinë |
| 14:30 | Berisha 27' (pen.) S. Shpendi 73' | Report | Stadium:Arena Egnatia Attendance: 512 Referee: Jarred Gavan Gillett (Australia) |
v Albania| 17 November 2023 (2023-11-17)2025 UEFA Q | Romania | 5–0 | Albania | Giulești |
| 19:30 | Munteanu 7' (pen.) M. Ilie 15'R. Ilie 37'Grameni 55'Danciu 86' | Report | Stadium:Stadionul Rapid-Giulești Attendance: 2,234 Referee: Matthew De Gabriele (Malta) |
v Finland| 22 March 2024 (2024-03-22)2025 UEFA Q | Albania | 0–0 | Finland | Tirana |
| 17:00 | Report | Stadium:Arena Kombëtare Referee: Michal Očenáš (Slovakia) |
v Switzerland| 26 March 2024 (2024-03-26)2025 UEFA Q | Albania | 1–3 | Switzerland | Tirana |
| 17:00 | Shpendi 90+3' | Report | Surdez 28' Sanches 59'Keller 76' | Stadium:Arena Kombëtare Referee: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden) |
v Albania| 7 June 2024 (2024-06-07)2025 UEFA Q | Montenegro | 1–0 | Albania | Podgorica |
| 20:00 | Franeta 90+2' | Report | Stadium:Podgorica City Stadium Referee:Jonathan Lardot (Belgium) |
v
Liechtenstein U23| 11 June 2024 (2024-06-11)Friendly | Albania | 4–0 | Liechtenstein U23 | Durrës |
| 19:00 | Pajaziti 37' (pen.) Rashica 42'Maksuti 52'Kurtulan 90+2' (pen.) | Report | Stadium:Niko Dovana Stadium Referee: Florjan Lata (Albania) |
v Albania| 6 September 2024 (2024-09-06)2025 UEFA Q | Switzerland | 1–2 | Albania | Lausanne |
| 19:30 | Surdez 16' | Report | Pajaziti 18',69' | Stadium:Stade de la Tuilière Referee: Atilla Karaoğlan (Turkey) |
v Armenia| 15 October 2024 (2024-10-15)2025 UEFA Q | Albania | 1–0 | Armenia | Tirana |
| Aventisian 57' (o.g.) | Report | Stadium:Arena Kombëtare Referee: Kyriakos Athanasiou (Cyprus) |
v
Moldova| 15 November 2024 (2024-11-15)Friendly | Albania | 1–1 | Moldova | Vorë |
| Rashica 10' (pen.) | Report | Costin 79' | Stadium:Vora Stadium |
v Moldova| 18 November 2024 (2024-11-18)Friendly | Albania | 4–0 | Moldova | Vorë |
| Rashica 16' Ismaili 54'Rama 87'Daka 90+3' | Report | Stadium:Vora Stadium |
v Albania| 21 March 2025 (2025-03-21)Friendly | Greece | 0–0 | Albania | Serres |
| 16:00 | Report | Stadium:Serres Municipal Stadium |
v Albania| 25 March 2025 (2025-03-25)Friendly | Luxembourg | 1–0 | Albania | Parc Housen |
| 18:30 | Videira 57' | Report | Stadium:Stade Georges Wohlfart |
v Albania| 5 June 2025 (2025-06-05)Friendly | Hungary | 1–2 | Albania | Kecskemét |
| 19:30 | Drágoner 74' | Report | Dodaj 46' Osmani 76' | Stadium:Széktói Stadion |
v Albania| 8 June 2025 (2025-06-08)Friendly | Turkey | 1–0 | Albania | Istanbul |
| 19:00 | Kılıçsoy 27' | Report | Stadium:Atatürk Olympic Stadium |
v Germany| 5 September 2025 (2025-09-05)Friendly | Albania | 0–2 | Germany | Elbasan |
| 18:30 | Report | Ansah 48' Pejčinović 52' | Stadium:Elbasan Arena |
v Albania| 8 September 2025 (2025-09-08)Friendly | Switzerland | 2–1 | Albania | Aarau |
| 18:30 | Konietzke 27' Jukaj 81' (o.g.) | Report | Shehu 62' | Stadium:Stadion Brügglifeld |
v
San Marino| 10 October 2025 (2025-10-10)Friendly | Albania | 2–0 | San Marino | Tirana |
| 17:00 | Dodaj 21' Fetai 52' | Report | Stadium:Air Albania Stadium |
v Albania| 13 November 2025 (2025-11-13)Friendly | Moldova | 0–1 | Albania | Vadul lui Vodă |
| 15:00 | Report | Alili 18' | Stadium:Stadionul CPSM Referee: Dumitru Muntean (Moldova) |
v
Ukraine| 17 November 2025 (2025-11-17)Friendly | Albania | 2–0 | Ukraine | Elbasan |
| 18:00 | Rashica 38' Kote 90+5' | Report | Stadium:Elbasan Arena |
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1GK | Simon Simoni | (2004-07-14)14 July 2004 (age 21) | 14 | 0 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern |
| 12 | 1GK | Giulio Veliaj | (2005-04-01)1 April 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Forlì |
| 23 | 1GK | Aron Jukaj | (2005-06-19)19 June 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Vllaznia |
| 2 | 2DF | Diar Vokrri | (2004-06-27)27 June 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 |  Ballkani |
| 3 | 2DF | Ermis Selimaj | (2004-05-25)25 May 2004 (age 21) | 15 | 0 | PAS Giannina |
| 4 | 2DF | Elton Fikaj | (2005-10-18)18 October 2005 (age 20) | 13 | 0 | Panathinaikos |
| 5 | 2DF | Ervin Bashi | (2005-07-24)24 July 2005 (age 20) | 9 | 0 | Catanzaro |
| 6 | 2DF | Gabriel Ramaj | (2006-02-09)9 February 2006 (age 19) | 9 | 0 | Atalanta U20 |
| 15 | 2DF | Adi Kurti | (2006-01-17)17 January 2006 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Hellas Verona U20 |
| 16 | 2DF | Arlind Kurti | (2005-01-24)24 January 2005 (age 20) | 11 | 0 | Laçi |
| 18 | 2DF | Fabjan Përndreca | (2005-12-06)6 December 2005 (age 19) | 6 | 0 | Bylisi |
| 19 | 2DF | Aurel Marku | (2005-01-13)13 January 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Bylisi |
| 7 | 3MF | Feta Fetai(captain) | (2005-05-11)11 May 2005 (age 20) | 12 | 1 |  Sharjah |
| 8 | 3MF | Burak Alili | (2004-02-11)11 February 2004 (age 21) | 8 | 1 | Stade Nyonnais |
| 10 | 3MF | Etnik Brruti | (2004-03-04)4 March 2004 (age 21) | 7 | 0 | Malisheva |
| 13 | 3MF | Gjergji Kote | (2004-08-20)20 August 2004 (age 21) | 5 | 1 | Partizani |
| 14 | 3MF | Aidon Shehu | (2006-10-11)11 October 2006 (age 19) | 7 | 1 |  Hull City U21 |
| 20 | 3MF | Dario Daka | (2004-01-24)24 January 2004 (age 21) | 6 | 1 | Vora |
| 9 | 4FW | Ermir Rashica | (2004-03-24)24 March 2004 (age 21) | 14 | 4 | Metalist 1925 Kharkiv |
| 11 | 4FW | Rrok Toma | (2004-02-27)27 February 2004 (age 21) | 9 | 0 | Partizani |
| 17 | 4FW | Elmedin Rama | (2005-03-25)25 March 2005 (age 20) | 4 | 1 | Vlašim |
| 21 | 4FW | Besar Guxhufi | (2004-05-29)29 May 2004 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | Partizani |
| 22 | 4FW | Kevin Dodaj | (2005-09-03)3 September 2005 (age 20) | 10 | 2 | CSKA Sofia |
The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Endri Dema | (2004-04-17)17 April 2004 (age 21) | 2 | 0 | Besa | v. Ukraine, 17 November 2025 |
| GK | Alain Taho | (2007-04-30)30 April 2007 (age 18) | 1 | 0 | Inter U20 | v. San Marino, 10 October 2025 |
| GK | Anxhelo Sina | (2004-01-07)7 January 2004 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | PAS Giannina | v. Switzerland, 8 September 2025 |
| GK | Arbër Jata | (2004-12-03)3 December 2004 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Iliria | v. Armenia, 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Zylyf Muça | (2005-03-07)7 March 2005 (age 20) | 6 | 0 | Trento | v. Switzerland, 8 September 2025 |
| DF | Erdin Ismaili | (2005-06-10)10 June 2005 (age 20) | 2 | 1 | Basel U21 | v. Luxembourg, 25 March 2025 |
| DF | Leart Zuka | (2005-08-27)27 August 2005 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Servette U21 | v. Luxembourg, 25 March 2025 |
| MF | Ledjo Tresa | (2005-07-25)25 July 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Laçi | v. San Marino, 10 October 2025INJ |
| MF | Enes Osmani | (2004-02-13)13 February 2004 (age 21) | 4 | 1 | Sparta Prague B | v. Switzerland, 8 September 2025INJ |
| MF | Luan Simnica | (2004-01-22)22 January 2004 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Erzgebirge Aue | v. Switzerland, 8 September 2025 |
| MF | Gent Elezaj | (2005-04-11)11 April 2005 (age 20) | 3 | 0 | Landskrona | v. Switzerland, 8 September 2025 |
| MF | Dion Ajvazi | (2004-02-10)10 February 2004 (age 21) | 6 | 0 | Hertha BSC II | v. Turkey, 8 June 2025 |
| MF | Renaldo Torraj | (2004-07-15)15 July 2004 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Teuta | v. Luxembourg, 25 March 2025 |
| MF | Jordi Jaku | (2006-03-27)27 March 2006 (age 19) | 1 | 0 | Bologna U20 | v. Luxembourg, 25 March 2025 |
| FW | Erald Maksuti | (2004-05-10)10 May 2004 (age 21) | 9 | 1 | Flamurtari | v. Moldova, 13 November 2025INJ |
| FW | Kevin Zefi | (2005-02-11)11 February 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Unattached | v. Greece, 21 March 2025 |
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Current coaching staff:[10]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Alban Bushi |
| Assistant coach | Endri Zjarri |
| Goalkeeping coach | Erion Meta |
| Athletic coach | Mark Dodaj |
| Team manager | Denis Lilo |
| Video analyst | Xhoen Tugu |
| Team doctor | Mehmet Buzmerxhani |
| Physiotherapist | Gledi Rexha |
| Physiotherapist | Edison Koçi |
| Base materials | Lusjos Sina |
| Balkan Youth Championship record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1976–1978 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
| 1981 | Champions | 1st | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 2 Titles | 2/2 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 8 |
| National teams |
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| Cup competitions |
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