North Macedonia U19: Kapinkovski names squad for second qualifying round
Dimitar Kapinkovski selected 21 players as Macedonia hosts the second qualifying round in Turnovo and Strumica.
The North Macedonia under-19 national team will host the second qualifying round for the 2027 UEFA European Under-19 Championship between 9 and 17 November, the Football Federation announced.
Kapinkovski names 21-man squad
Head coach Dimitar Kapinkovski selected a 21-player squad that will face Northern Ireland, Slovenia and Malta in matches scheduled in Turnovo and Strumica, each with a 13:00 kickoff.
Macedonia opens the mini-tournament on 11 November against Northern Ireland at the Kukush stadium in Turnovo. The team then meets Slovenia on 14 November, and closes the group phase on 17 November against Malta.
The squad includes three goalkeepers: Aleksandar Trajkovski (Brera Strumica), Pavel Grbevski (Teteks) and Besjan Aliju (Bashkimi).
Defenders called up are Alban Rochi (Struga Trim Lum), Hristijan Markoski (Köln, Germany), Mateo Kesik (Jedinstvo), Muhamed Mustafi (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Filip Cvetkovski (Vardar) and Anes Abdurahmani (Shkëndija).
In midfield Kapinkovski selected Gabriel Taleski, Bojan Velkov and Ivan Tanchev (all Brera Strumica), Loren Zhaku (Bilish, Albania), Aleksandar Grashevski (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatia) and Lavdrim Kasami (Umraniyespor, Turkey).
The attacking group comprises Muhamed Kurtishi (Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland), Jovan Mrmachovski (Pelister), Jakov Stojkovski (Paderborn, Germany), Jordan Damevski (Arka, Norway), Ditmir Hodzha (Leeds United, England) and Antian Emini (Kozhuf).
The stated objective for Kapinkovski's side is to finish first in the group and secure promotion to League A for the third qualifying round, keeping their hopes alive for a place at the final tournament in 2027.
Photo: press material from the event
