Dragan Gjorgiev: Diaspora backing North Macedonia in Lucerne
The Macedonian diaspora in Switzerland has sold out the allocated sector for the October 6, 2026 match; former player Dragan "Gago" Gjorgiev visited the team's base and pledged support.
North Macedonia's national football team will play its fourth and final match of the current international window on October 6, 2026, at 20:45 in Lucerne, facing the host nation Switzerland.
The squad arrives after three consecutive defeats in this window, a run that makes the evening's fixture particularly important. Despite the results, players and staff view every match as an opportunity to change course.
Switzerland may not be the easiest opponent to use for a turnaround, but for North Macedonia the game has an extra advantage: a large Macedonian community in the country. The section of the stadium allocated to supporters from North Macedonia has been sold out for some time, and reports say Macedonian fans will occupy other parts of the stadium as well.
Former national team player Dragan "Gago" Gjorgiev, who has lived in Switzerland for years, confirmed he will be among the travelling supporters in Lucerne.
"This is certainly a big event for our community here. For Macedonians in Switzerland. Macedonia is making its first visit here, and honestly we are excited. We will cheer with all our hearts for our boys, because they deserve that at the moment. Maximum support, despite the fact that the results have not gone their way in recent matches. We are always here for them," Gjorgiev said.
Visit to the team's base and a reunion
Gjorgiev visited the national team's training base in Lucerne and met his former Mainz teammate Nikolche Noveski, who now serves as director of the scouting department at the Football Federation of North Macedonia (FFM).
"Nikolche Noveski and I have our own history, as they say. There is always a special feeling when I meet someone of Nikolche's stature — a football name with whom I spent six months together at Mainz. His support always means a lot and I know he is someone who is always ready to help. I am glad when names like this work in our football and that gives hope we will have a better future," Gjorgiev said.
Photo: press material from the event
