Albania’s national team is set to take the field tonight at the legendary Wembley Stadium for their first match in the World Cup 2026 pre-qualifiers against England. The highly anticipated match kicks off at 20:45 CET.
In an interesting twist, Albania will be donning their black third kit for this encounter. This decision was made due to England’s traditional home white kit, which clashes with Albania’s second, also white, uniform. To avoid confusion, the Albanian squad will step out in black — a move officially confirmed by the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) in an Instagram post earlier today.
The black kit holds a special place in Albanian football history, carrying memories of triumph and resilience. It was in this very kit that coach Gianni De Biasi’s team secured Albania’s first-ever qualification for the UEFA European Championship, following a memorable 3-1 victory against Armenia. The black jersey also brought good fortune during a solid 1-1 draw against Croatia, marking another proud moment for the "Kuqezinjtë" (The Red and Blacks).
As Albania faces off against one of football’s giants, fans are hoping the black kit’s lucky legacy will inspire another remarkable performance.