Austria seek win over San Marino as Serbia host Albania in Group K

Austria, unbeaten in qualifying, host San Marino at the Ernst Happel Stadion on Thursday as European qualifying for the 2026 World Cup continues, while Serbia and Albania meet in a key Group K fixture at the Dubocica Stadium in Leskovac on Saturday. Austria arrive on a perfect run of results and will seek to maintain momentum, while Serbia aim to recover from a heavy defeat as both groups enter a decisive phase.

Austria sit second in Group H with 12 points from four matches after successive wins, including a 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in their most recent outing in which Marcel Sabitzer scored after the break and Konrad Laimer added a second. The visitors from San Marino occupy the bottom of the group with no points from five matches and have been eliminated from contention. San Marino were beaten 6-0 by Bosnia in their last match, a game in which captain Alessandro Golinucci received a red card in the 16th minute. Austria have scored freely in qualifying and are closing in on a first World Cup appearance since 1998 if they sustain their form.

San Marino enter Thursday’s match without a win in seven matches across competitions and will be focused on damage...