Preview:Latvia vs Serbia - prediction, team news, lineups

Locked together on four points in World Cup 2026 Qualifying Group K, Latvia and Serbia collide at the Daugava Stadium in Riga on Saturday afternoon.

As well as leading their hosts in the standings on goal difference, the visitors also have a game in hand and are riding a pleasing unbeaten streak heading into the weekend.

Match preview

Owing to their successful involvement in the UEFA Nations League playoffs in March, Serbia have only taken to the pitch twice in World Cup 2026 Qualifying so far, but Dragan Stojkovic's men are riding the crest of a wave heading into September's bouts.

The Eagles firstly overcame Austria 3-1 on aggregate to retain their place in League A of the Nations League, before taking a respectable four points from a possible six against Albania and Andorra in Group K in June, registering back-to-back clean sheets along the way.

A forgettable goalless stalemate with the Albanians preceded a straightforward 3-0 beating of Andorra, who had restricted England to just the one goal a few days beforehand but succumbed to a masterful Aleksandar Mitrovic hat-trick in Leskovac.

Mitrovic could hardly have marked his 100th appearance for the national team in a more fitting way, and third-placed Serbia now sit just one point adrift of Albania in the playoff place with two games in hand, so their qualification is firmly in their own destiny.

June's convincing win over Andorra marked Serbia's sixth match without defeat across all competitions too, and they are unbeaten in their last 11 World Cup qualifiers since falling to Austria in 2017; a morale-boosting sequence before a daunting Euro 2024 reunion with England next week.

The Latvians have already fallen to the might of the Three Lions in Group K, but Paolo Nicolato's men have posted another two satisfactory results either side of their defeat to Thomas Tuchel's side, edging out Andorra and holding Albania.

The latter result - a 1-1 draw on June 10 - was a particularly eventful affair for Latvia defender Antonijs Cernomordijs, who scored an own goal, struck the equaliser and picked up a yellow card that rules him out of Saturday's game through suspension.

Four points from nine on offer has Latvia fourth in the group below perfect England, second-placed Albania - whom they are one point below with a game in hand on - and upcoming foes Serbia, so the playoff spot could be theirs this weekend with a victory.

Saturday's meeting will mark the first-ever competitive or non-competitive battle between Serbia and Latvia's senior men's teams, although the two nations have fought four times at Under-21 level, playing out three draws and one 2-0 victory for the Eagles back in 2007.

Latvia World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Latvia form (all competitions):

Serbia World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:

Serbia form (all competitions):

Team News

Serbia's all-time record scorer Mitrovic is reportedly in the process of finalising a move to Qatari side Al-Rayyan after terminating his contract with Al-Hilal, but the ex-Fulham and Newcastle United man is in the Eagles' squad, so it will be business as usual up front for him.

Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic - who remained with the Old Lady this summer despite talk of his own contract termination - should link arms with Mitrovic, whose former Fulham teammate Sasa Lukic should operate in midfield.

However, goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic requested to be omitted from the Serbia squad this time around as he acclimatises to his new surroundings at Napoli, so Bournemouth's Djordje Petrovic could start as the last line of defence.

On Latvia's end, the aforementioned Cernomordijs must serve his one-match ban here on account of picking up two yellow cards in Group K already, but he has been called up to the squad nonetheless and will be back to face Albania next Tuesday.

Thirty-three-year-old Vitalijs Jagodinskis is likely to step into the backline in Cernomordijs's place, but Aberdeen's Kristers Tobers is unavailable due to injury.

Latvia possible starting lineup:

Zviedris; Jaunzems, Balodis, Jagodinskis, Jurkovskis, Ciganiks; Varslavans, Ikaunieks, Saveljevs, Zelenkovs; Gutkovskis

Serbia possible starting lineup:

Petrovic; Stojic, Pavlovic, Milenkovic; Gudelj; Zivkovic, Lukic, Samardzic, Kostic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic

We say: Latvia 0-2 Serbia

As well as lamenting the absence of an experienced defender in Cernomordijs, Latvia lack the necessary punch up front to truly trouble the Serbian backline.

Vlahovic and Mitrovic may have to be patient against the defence-heavy hosts, but Stojkovic's men possess too much attacking firepower to claim anything other a routine victory.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.