Sweden vs Kosovo: The Match for the Unofficial World Championship Title

On October 13, Sweden and Kosovo will meet in an important 2026 World Cup qualifying match. For Group B, this clash could prove decisive — the outcome might determine who claims second place and advances to the playoff round.

But the game carries another, less official yet equally intriguing, status — it’s also a match for the Unofficial Football World Championship (UFWC) title.

What is the UFWC?
The Unofficial Football World Championships (UFWC) is a fan-created football tradition. Its format follows a “boxing-style” principle: to become the champion, you simply have to beat the current titleholder.

The UFWC’s story began in 1967, when Scottish fans jokingly claimed their team were the “true world champions” after Scotland beat England (2–1) shortly after England had won the 1966 World Cup. Thus, the idea of an “unofficial football crown” was born — one that has traveled from nation to nation ever since.

Later, fans created a website to track all matches affecting the title’s lineage. The project gained international attention, including coverage in FourFourTwo magazine. Although FIFA does not officially recognize it, the UFWC has become a cult phenomenon among football fans.

How the Title Returned to Europe
After Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, they also became the unofficial world champions. But in 2023, Argentina lost to Uruguay, passing the title to Côte d’Ivoire — and then on through African nations including Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Algeria.

Algeria held the crown for more than six months before losing it to Sweden in a friendly match in June 2025.

But on September 8, 2025, Kosovo shocked the football world by defeating Sweden 2–0 in a World Cup qualifier, claiming the UFWC title for the first time in their history.

Two days later, Kosovo successfully defended the title with a 0–0 draw against Slovenia.

Revenge in Stockholm
Now, on October 13, Sweden will have the chance to reclaim the UFWC crown — and do so in front of their home crowd. The match promises to be intense, not only because of the qualification stakes, but also due to the symbolic yet highly prestigious status of the unofficial world title.

Thus, the championship that began its post-Qatar 2022 journey in South America has traveled through Africa and found its way back to Europe — where it may remain until the 2026 World Cup.