The Kosovo national team warms up prior to its friendly against visiting Haiti on March 5, 2014, in Mitrovica. (Photo: FIFA via AFP)
MITROVICA, Kosovo – In its first FIFA-sanctioned match, Kosovo played Haiti to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday at Stadiumi Olimpik Adem Jashari.
A capacity crowd in excess of 17,000 reveled in the performance of its national team, six years after the Kosovars declared their independence from Serbia.
Following a meeting of FIFA's emergency committee on January 13, the Kosovo Football Federation – which is not a member of the sport’s global governing body -- was given permission to stage an encounter against a FIFA-affiliated member association.
"It was fantastic, although if we had scored, everything would have been perfect," said goalkeeper Samir Ujkani.