Albania vs England Prediction 16.11.2025 | WC Qualifiers Europe

Maybe Albania’s quest for their first-ever World Cup finals appearance did not get off to the dream start, but an opening-day defeat to England was always on the cards, falling 2-0 at the iconic Wembley Stadium in a result that few could genuinely question.

With the Three Lions clearly destined to cruise toward top spot without meaningful resistance, the real battle centered around who would claim the playoff-bound second place. Fierce rivals Albania and Serbia emerged as the main contenders, and with the Red-Blacks collecting four points across their head-to-head duels, that decisive edge ultimately propelled them in behind Tuchel’s men.

A second-half strike from Kristjan Asllani proved enough for Sylvinho’s side to break down a stubborn Andorra unit on the road last time out, and with Serbia simultaneously suffering defeat to England, Albania officially locked in the runners-up position in Group K ahead of the final matchday, securing a historic ticket to the World Cup playoffs.

With second place now sealed, the Brazilian tactician can finally breathe a little easier, as he faces no fresh injury concerns heading into the closing qualifier. That stability suggests he will field the same XI from the first November fixture, while his players dream of becoming the only team to take points off England — a mission that remains immensely difficult.

Meanwhile, England have fully justified their authority and elite status by storming through their qualifying group like a runaway express train, sweeping aside all seven opening opponents in dominant fashion and racking up a sensational tally of 20 unanswered goals.

Their latest victims were Serbia, whom the Three Lions see off with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Wembley, scoring in each half to extend their remarkable competitive streak to ten straight wins across all tournaments.

England’s backline has looked ironclad for months and shows no signs of softening, with their last competitive concession dating all the way back to October 2024. Now, they’ll be aiming to become the only team to complete the World Cup qualifying group stage without conceding a single goal.

With their ticket to an eighth consecutive World Cup already secured, head coach Thomas Tuchel is expected to rotate his starting XI, offering fringe players a golden chance to impress and stake their claim for a place on the plane next June.