North Macedonia vs Switzerland Prediction 26 September 2026
🔊 This summer, Switzerland reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954. Now they begin their League B campaign and travel to Skopje without captain Granit Xhaka and leading qualifier scorer Breel Embolo. North Macedonia, meanwhile, are playing in the second division of the competition for the first time in their history, and at home they are used to taking points off stronger opponents.
Head-to-Head
📊 The two sides will meet for the first time in Skopje - their paths have never crossed before, in either official or friendly matches. North Macedonia have recent experience of facing strong opponents. In 2026 World Cup qualifying they held Belgium twice: at home, Ezgjan Alioski rescued a point late on in a 1-1 draw, while the away match ended goalless. Switzerland face a similar task in Skopje - breaking down a well-organised home defence.
Head-to-head statistics North Macedonia - Switzerland
North Macedonia Team Overview
North Macedonia are playing in League B of the Nations League for the first time, having finished top of League C in the previous edition, dropping points only to the Faroe Islands. They went into their World Cup qualifying campaign with a new manager. After Blagoja Milevski's contract expired, the job went to Goce Sedloski - the first player in the country's history to earn 100 caps. His debut was a difficult one: North Macedonia lost 0-4 to Denmark in the play-off semi-final.
In 2026, North Macedonia have yet to score. The defeat in Denmark was followed by two goalless draws - against Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina - and a heavy loss to Turkey in June. The team have four matches between 26 September and 6 October, and Sedloski has already promised rotation. He has named Switzerland as the group favourites but believes North Macedonia are capable of competing with them.
Match Results: North Macedonia
Switzerland Team Overview
Switzerland had their best World Cup in 72 years last summer. Murat Yakin's side lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals 1-3, but only in extra time, with the decisive goals coming after Breel Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation. Now the task is more modest - returning to League A of the Nations League, from which they were relegated in the previous edition.
In 2026 World Cup qualifying, Switzerland have conceded just two goals in six matches, and they are currently unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 games. The squad has been changing since the World Cup. Silvan Widmer, who made 65 appearances for the national team, left the squad at the end of August. Noah Okafor has turned down call-ups, citing a falling-out with Yakin. Twenty-year-olds Winsley Boteli and Sacha Bricigi have received their first international call-ups.
Match Results: Switzerland
Latest news
North Macedonia
❓ Sedloski has named a 28-man squad, including four new call-ups: Anes Melidži, Gjorgje Djekov, Matej Gaštarov and Hristijan Maleski. Centre-back Nikola Serafimov is injured and has not been included. Darko Velkovski, who started the June match against Turkey in central defence, is also absent. Mario Mladenovski has returned to the squad after a four-year absence. The main attacking hopes rest on Elif Elmas, who joined Atalanta in the summer, and Bojan Miovski of Rangers.
Switzerland
❓ Yakin has more personnel problems than his opposite number. Captain Granit Xhaka will miss the camp due to a controversy over his coronavirus vaccination certificate: the federation and the player agreed it would be better for the team to go through this window without him. Breel Embolo, according to the Swiss press, is serving a suspension for a red card in the World Cup quarter-final. Denis Zakaria picked up an injury in a match for Monaco, and Coventry defender Aurèle Amenda is also injured. To cover the absentees, Yakin has additionally called up Isaac Schmidt, Vincent Sierro and Joël Monteiro. The central striking role is up for grabs between Cedric Itten, Zeki Amdouni and Wuilker Fariñez Boteli.
Predicted Lineups
📋 Predicted starting XI for North Macedonia: Dimitrievski - Musliu, Zajkov, Alomerovic - Stojchevski, Atanasov, Bardhi, Alioski - Elmas - Miovski, Omeragic.
📋 Predicted starting XI for Switzerland: Kobel - Athekame, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez - Freuler, Jashari - Rieder, Manzambi, Ndoye - Itten.
⚽️ Goals Prediction
North Macedonia have scored in 11 consecutive home official matches. Switzerland have conceded in eight consecutive Nations League matches. We expect the Macedonians to open their 2026 scoring account at home in Skopje. The bet is North Macedonia to Score: Yes.
🚩 Corner Prediction
Over their last ten matches, Switzerland have taken 46 corners. North Macedonia's opponents over the same period earned 63 corners, while Macedonia themselves took 36. The hosts will most likely sit back and defend around their own penalty area, which means Switzerland should be taking the majority of the corners. The bet is Switzerland Team Total Corners - Over 4.5.
🟨 Yellow Cards Prediction
North Macedonia's players have received 26 yellow cards in their last ten matches, while their opponents have collected 18. Teams facing Switzerland have also been carded heavily, picking up 21 bookings over the same period, with the Swiss themselves receiving nine. The bet is North Macedonia Team Total - Over 1.5 Yellow Cards.
🚀 Player Stat Bet
Without Embolo, Dan Ndoye is Switzerland's main attacking threat. In the World Cup quarter-final it was he who equalised against Argentina after a combination with Ricardo Rodriguez. Against the hosts' compact defence, his pace on the flank is one of the few ways Switzerland can create a chance. The bet is Ndoye to Score.
😱 Risky Bet
In official home matches, North Macedonia have drawn with that scoreline in 3 of their last 4 games. Goals are generally scarce in Skopje: fewer than three were scored in 8 of the hosts' last 9 home matches. Switzerland are equally tight away from home - no more than two goals in 6 of their last 7 away games. The risk is obvious: correct score is always a lottery, but if there's a big price to chase, this is the place to do it. The bet is Correct Score 1-1 at 7.50*.
🎯 Reliable Bet
At least two goals have been scored in 13 of Switzerland's last 15 away matches. In the Nations League that run stands at eight consecutive matches, and six on the road specifically. The hosts have their own record to point to: they have scored in the second half in seven consecutive home matches. The odds are modest, but the runs are long. The bet is Total Goals - Over 1.5 at 1.25*.
👀 If the match doesn't go to script
The likely scenario is a tight game with one or two goals, in which the hosts at least avoid defeat. That changes if Switzerland score early. North Macedonia would then have to come out of their defensive shape, giving the visitors space for counter-attacks. Even so, a big Switzerland win seems unlikely. Away from home, they have failed to score more than two goals in 14 consecutive matches. And North Macedonia have not lost by more than one goal at home in 13 matches in a row. If things do play out that way, the live bet to watch would be a Switzerland win.
*Odds are indicative and may vary across different bookmakers
📌 Editorial Prediction
North Macedonia have gone nine matches in a row without defeat at home. Away from home, Switzerland have won three points just once in their last eight matches. In the Nations League, the Swiss are without a win in six consecutive matches. For the trip to Skopje, Murat Yakin is also without Embolo and Zakaria. We expect the hosts to extend their home run. The bet is North Macedonia not to lose. Predicted score - 1:1.
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Betting Tips: North Macedonia - Switzerland
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