England travel to Belgrade to face Serbia in a pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifier, broadcast live on ITV 1 and ITVX on Tuesday 9th September at 7:45 pm (UK time). Despite leading their group with a perfect record, the Three Lions must navigate one of Europe’s most daunting atmospheres at the Rajko Mitić Stadium — a setting known locally as the “Marakana”.
Both teams to score (1/1 with SBK)
England haven’t conceded in qualifiers so far, but this may be tested. Serbia, backed by home support and led by goal-machine Aleksandar Mitrović — who notched a hat-trick in June — is a threat up front. Serbia have also yet to see their defence breached in their qualifying campaign, scoring four goals in three games to this point.
This is the toughest game either side have faced so far though and both defences should be tested on multiple occasions. We can see both teams finding the net in a high scoring game.
Over 2.5 goals (11/10 with SBK)
England average just under two goals per game, and Serbia over one, making a high-scoring fixture likely. England have yet to really come alive under Thomas Tuchel but this is a step up when it comes to opposition and that should inspire the Three Lions to be more productive in the final third. That being said, Serbia have a lot of dangermen, especially in attack and the chances should flow at both ends of the pitch and we can see the 2.5 goal line being broken with ease here.
How both teams go into Serbia vs England
Serbia come into the clash unbeaten in six, including a 3–0 qualifying win over Andorra and tight contests with Austria and Albania. Their climb to second in Group K keeps them very much alive following a 1-0 win over Latvia on Saturday evening.
A win here for Serbia wouldn’t be enough to see them leapfrog over England at the top of the group but they have played a game less than the Three Lions and a victory, plus a game in hand could give them a major advantage in qualifying for the World Cup.
England, under Thomas Tuchel, are unbeaten in qualifiers and sit top of Group K. However, recent results — a limp friendly loss to Senegal and two narrow escapes against Andorra — have shown vulnerabilities.
A 2-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday showed some glimpses of the England of old but still had trouble breaking down a low block in Andorra, who frequently had ten men behind the ball. They’ll need to be more expansive to break down Serbia.
Serbia team news
Manager Dragan Stojković fields a familiar spine, with captain Aleksandar Mitrović spearheading the attack — Serbia’s all-time top scorer. Nikola Milenković and Nemanja Maksimović provide defensive and midfield steel, respectively. The venue switch to the Rajko Mitić Stadium promises a hostile environment for England (previously planned in Leskovac).
England team news
Thomas Tuchel announced his squad on Friday 29 August. Notable absences include Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander‑Arnold, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker. In comes Harry Kane as captain, along with fresh call-ups like Elliot Anderson, Djed Spence, Adam Wharton, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, and Jarrod Bowen. Goalkeeper options include Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, and James Trafford.
Serbia vs England head-to-head
This fixture resumes a competitive rivalry. England edged the last meeting 1–0 during Euro 2024, courtesy of a Jude Bellingham header. Historically, Serbia have struggled against the Three Lions — unbeaten in seven encounters. The average goals per game across their meetings hover around 2.94.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 16/06/24 | Serbia 0-1 England | UEFA European Championship |
| 03/06/03 | England 2-1 Serbia and Montenegro | International Friendly |
| 13/12/89 | England 2-1 Yugoslavia | International Friendly |
| 11/11/87 | Yugoslavia 1-4 England | UEFA European Championship qualifying |