It will be the first competitive game for Kosovo boss Franco Foda, who was appointed in February, and it will come against the toughest opposition in their section.

Foda, who led Austria to the last 16 of Euro 2020, will be hoping to get Kosovo into League B for the first time, as previous draws have not been kind to the Balkan side.

Since being promoted from League D shortly after joining FIFA and UEFA, a league above the likes of Malta, Azerbaijan and the Faroe Islands, Kosovo have faced some tough opposition in the Nations League.

The likes of Slovenia and Greece are arguably too good for the third tier, and Kosovo have been unable to challenge either of them, meaning that they are now in League C for the third year in a row.

Once again, however, Kosovo have been drawn against the heavyweights of the tier in Romania, so they will need to upset the apple cart in much the same way as they did in Euro 2024 qualifying if they are to have any chance of promotion.

The Dardanians held Romania and Switzerland to two draws and beat Israel on home soil, but their campaign was derailed by a draw with Andorra and two defeats to Belarus.

With so many players in Europe's top five leagues, Kosovo are capable of success, but inconsistency has held them back since joining UEFA.

Romania are unlikely to have an easy time of it in Pristina, however, as their 0-0 draw here in Euro 2024 qualifying was part of a run that has seen Kosovo lose just one of their last nine home games.

Legendary coach Mircea Lucescu, credited with revolutionising Shakhtar Donetsk during his 12-year reign, is back at the helm 43 years after first taking charge between 1981 and 1986, replacing Edward Iordanescu, who spent the summer in charge of the Tricolorii in Germany.

Lucescu gave Gheorghe Hagi his Romanian debut and helped sow the seeds for the country's phenomenal rise in the 1990s, and with all the signs currently pointing in the right direction, hopes of another World Cup in the United States are not out of the question.

The fact that they bounced back so well from relegation in the last edition of the Nations League is a positive sign, as Romania were unlucky to be relegated by seven points, but they bounced back to reach Euro 2024 by going unbeaten in their qualifying section, picking up 22 points and keeping six clean sheets in 10 games.

The Netherlands may have lost to Romania in the last 16, but a 3-0 win over Ukraine in their group opener will go down as one of their finest days since the memorable years of the 1990s.

Kosovo possible starting lineup:

Muric; Rrahmani, Aliti, Paqarada; Hadergjonaj, V Berisha, Rexhbecaj, Vojvoda; Zhegrova, Muriqi, Rashica

Romania possible starting lineup:

Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu; R Marin, M Marin, Stanciu; Man, Dragus, Mihaila

Prediction:Kosovo 0-0 Romania

Kosovo vs Romania stream and TV listing

International：Holasports