Kazakhstan vs North Macedonia

Astana Arena forms the backdrop for a high-stakes 2026 World Cup qualifier between Kazakhstan and North Macedonia.

It’s been a mixed start to qualifying Group J for Kazakhstan as they unsurprisingly lost to Wales (1-3) and comfortably dispatched minnows Liechtenstein (2-0) in their opening two qualifiers. With Belgium tipped for a top spot in this section, Ali Aliyev’s quest to lead Kazakhstan to their first World Cup qualification as an independent nation hinges on beating North Macedonia. However, that could be easier said than done, considering the former Soviet country slumped to a 4-0 defeat in Skopje during their only previous encounter against the Lynxes in 2021. A rematch on home soil doesn’t guarantee a payback, as the Hawks failed to get on the scoresheet in all three home outings in 2024 (D1, L2), part of the reason they appointed Aliyev as an interim boss in January. 

Meanwhile, North Macedonia’s pursuit of a maiden World Cup qualification as an independent country was off to a perfect start as they trounced Liechtenstein 3-0 before securing back-to-back 1-1 draws against Group J’s heavy hitters Belgium and Wales. Those matches form part of their impressive nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions (W6, D3), including three consecutive victories in foreign lands. Blagoja Milevski’s men must be full of confidence, especially after clinching their first-ever promotion to UEFA Nations League B. Defensive stability has been the backbone of North Macedonia’s recent purple patch, as they conceded under 1.5 goals in all nine unbeaten matches.