England vs. Albania: Head-to-head record and past meetings

 

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Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 8

England wins: 8

Draws: 0

Albania wins: 0

Each of the nations' contests so far have come in qualifying for various World Cup finals - respectively, on the road to Italy, Japan and South Korea, Qatar and North America.

When they first convened, back in March 1989, Albania were propping up the group table, having suffered two defeats from two.

England had been held at home by Sweden in their opening fixture, leaving manager Bobby Robson under pressure, as Poland were also vying for a place at Italia '90.

An early goal from John Barnes settled the visitors' nerves in Tirana, before Bryan Robson netted their second after the break.

Just a few weeks later, the teams met again at Wembley. On that occasion, Albania's teenage goalkeeper conceded five goals against the Three Lions' fearsome attack, as 17-year-old debutant Blendi Nallbani was placed under siege.

Peter Beardsley bagged a brace after Gary Lineker had opened the scoring, with England ultimately cruising to victory on home turf.

More than two decades on, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side netted three times during the final half-hour to win in Albania: Paul Scholes, Michael Owen and Andrew Cole all scored, while Altin Rraklli registered the Kuqezinjte's first - and still only - goal against England.

Almost six months later, the hosts ran out 2-0 winners on English soil, with Owen and Robbie Fowler striking either side of half time to edge their team towards the 2002 World Cup, where they would reach the quarter-finals.

The countries' next meetings then came four years ago, as they fought for a place in Qatar. First, a 2-0 away victory saw England maintain their successful start to qualifying, as Harry Kane and Mason Mount found the net to make it two wins from two in Group I.

Later on in that campaign, captain Kane claimed the match ball at Wembley, taking the hosts one step closer to the 2022 World Cup.

Not only did the Three Lions' prolific striker fire home a first-half hat-trick, but Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson were also on target in another five-goal triumph.

In March 2025, new England coach Thomas Tuchel got his reign up and running with a 2-0 win over Albania in his first World Cup 2026 qualifier. Teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly marked a dream debut by scoring the first goal of the Tuchel era, converting from Jude Bellingham's sublime pass with 20 minutes on the clock.

In doing so, the Arsenal starlet also surpassed Marcus Rashford as the youngest player to score during his first senior England appearance, at the tender age of just 18 years and 176 days.

However, it then took until the 77th minute for Kane to find the target once again, netting his 70th goal in 104 international matches and finally wrapping up maximum points.

Eight months later, England made it eight from eight in World Cup 2026 Qualifying with another 2-0 success over Albania, thanks to another pair of strikes from clinical captain Kane.

Last eight meetings

Nov 16, 2025: Albania 0-2 England (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Mar 21, 2025: England 2-0 Albania (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Nov 12, 2021: England 5-0 Albania (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Mar 28, 2021: Albania 0-2 England (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Sep 05, 2001: England 2-0 Albania (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Mar 28, 2001: Albania 1-3 England (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Apr 25, 1989: England 5-0 Albania (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

Mar 07, 1989: Albania 0-2 England (World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group Stage)

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