The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held simultaneously in Canada, Mexico, and the USA for the first time, across 16 stadiums, with 48 teams participating. The final will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and Ukraine will play in the qualification playoffs.
The Ukrainian national team will face Sweden in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers play-offs. If they win, Ukraine will play in the final against the winner of the Poland – Albania match.
Ukraine and eight other countries have joined the EU's decision to impose sanctions against the leadership of Transnistria. These countries will ensure that their national policies align with this decision.
A forest fire broke out in Tongariro National Park in New Zealand, covering 1600 hectares. 49 tourists have been evacuated, and rescuers are working to contain the fire.
European Commissioner Marta Kos urged Ukraine not to backtrack on anti-corruption measures to maintain its leading position on the path to the EU. This is necessary to complete accession negotiations by 2028.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Russia would not attack any other European country, as NATO is the strongest army in the world. At the same time, he noted that Russia is engaged in provocations against EU countries using drones.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that Montenegro is the most advanced candidate for EU membership. This year, Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, and Ukraine have demonstrated significant progress in reforms.
On November 4, a "EU enlargement summit" will be held in Brussels with the participation of leaders of candidate countries, including Ukraine. The future of European integration will be discussed live at the event.
The European Commission will publish its annual report on candidate countries for EU membership on November 4. Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro, and Albania, according to media reports, received mostly positive assessments.
On October 14, the UNESCO Executive Board adopted a new decision regarding the emergency aid program for Ukraine. The organization reaffirmed its solidarity with the Ukrainian people and condemned Russian aggression.
Dragan Stojković resigned as head coach of the Serbian national team after a 0-1 loss to Albania in the World Cup qualifiers. This defeat was the second in a row for the Serbs, who are now in third place in Group K.
The 2026 Giro d'Italia Grand Tour will start in Bulgaria for the first time, marking the third start in the Balkans in its history. This continues the practice of starting abroad, which has a positive impact on host countries and Italian exports.
In the Albanian Court of Appeals, during a hearing, a suspect opened fire, killing Judge Astrit Kalaja and injuring two people. The tragedy occurred on October 6, 2025, in Tirana during the consideration of a property dispute.
During a meeting with the presidents of France and Azerbaijan, Edi Rama jokingly reacted to Donald Trump's statement about "ending a war" that never actually existed between Albania and Azerbaijan.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may find support in his attempts to hinder Ukraine's accession to the EU, particularly from French President Emmanuel Macron. The proposal by European Council President António Costa to change EU accession rules to circumvent Hungary's resistance is meeting opposition from a number of countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Greece.
Ukraine, the EU, and 36 countries jointly called on Russia to stop the killings and start negotiations with Ukraine. The statement was made at the UN on September 23, 2025.
Albania was the first in the world to introduce the virtual minister Diella, controlled by AI, to manage public procurement. This will ensure transparency and incorruptibility of tenders.
Iran is tightening visa rules for Russians, requiring them to apply to Iranian tour companies for visa processing and hotel bookings. This is due to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East to prevent the entry of undesirable persons.
Donald Trump said he stopped the conflict between Azerbaijan and Albania, likely confusing the latter with Armenia. He also claims that Barack Obama gave Crimea to Russia - "a huge piece of land in the middle of the ocean."
Large-scale forest fires have engulfed Albania and Montenegro, claiming the lives of two people. Hundreds of coastal residents were forced to leave their homes.
Greece is closing the Acropolis and urging outdoor workers to suspend operations due to a third heatwave that will bring temperatures up to +43°C. Authorities are on high alert, and tourists and residents are advised to avoid the heat and crowds.
A 41-year-old woman from Lviv tragically died in Albania on July 11, trying to save her drowning daughter. The daughter survived and is in intensive care, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is assisting with the repatriation of the mother's body.
Foreign ministers of Southeast European countries supported Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. Participants of the meeting in Dubrovnik reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine and the Ministry of Youth and Sports have released a list of Russian athletes involved in promoting the war against Ukraine. They are connected to the Kremlin regime and continue to participate in international competitions.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a visit of foreign diplomats to the site of the Russian strike on a building in Kyiv. Representatives of more than 60 missions saw the consequences of Russian terror in Ukraine.
During the Ukraine - Southeast Europe summit, additional defense packages from some countries were confirmed. Support for Ukraine's energy resilience was also discussed.
Zelenskyy, together with the leaders of the countries participating in the Ukraine – Southeast Europe Summit, honored the memory of fallen soldiers in Odesa. Foreign guests were told the stories of Ukrainian defenders.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Edi Rama to participate in the summit. The head of the Ukrainian state reported on Russian shelling and stressed the need to put pressure on the Russian Federation.
The FBI conducted a large-scale operation against drug dealers in the darknet, arresting 270 people. 144 kg of fentanyl were seized, one kilogram of which is enough to kill 500,000 people.
The EU Council has decided to open another 8 chapters of membership negotiations with Albania within the "Competition and Inclusive Growth" cluster. Benchmarks have been set for the provisional closure of these chapters.
