Albania and Serbia, through their respective football federations, are set to co-host the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2027.

The two countries were the only bidders for the tournament, and UEFA officially confirmed their selection earlier this week.

According to the agreement, the tournament will kick off in Novi Sad at the Karadjordje Stadium, while the final will take place in Tirana at the new national stadium, which meets all the requirements for hosting a match of that magnitude.

In addition to Karadjordje Stadium, matches in Serbia will be played in Leskovac, Zaječar, and Loznica. Meanwhile, in Albania, games will take place in Shkodër, Durrës, Elbasan, and Leskovik.

“This is a 100 percent football project with a very strong political message that we can convey,” said Armand Duka, president of the Albanian Football Federation and UEFA vice president, earlier this year in an interview with AP.

However, some Albanian footballers have voiced their opposition to any form of collaboration with Serbia, but the Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) remained committed to the project. Fans also expressed their discontent, with the “Tifozat Kuq e Zi” (Red and Black Fans) being the most vocal, staging protests at several matches.