On Tuesday, September 9, at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Belgrade, Serbia and England face off in the standout match of Group K in the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. So far, both national teams have had a strong run: England have won all their matches, leading the group with 12 points, while Serbia sit second, five points behind but with a game in hand. This means that if the hosts win, they would close the gap to just two points, reigniting their hopes of fighting for the top spot that guarantees direct qualification for the next World Cup. On the other hand, avoiding defeat is crucial for Serbia to keep Albania at bay, currently in third place just two points behind them. Latvia and Andorra are too far back with 4 and 0 points, respectively. England, meanwhile, know that a win would be almost decisive for their qualification to an eighth consecutive World Cup. A loss would not cost them the lead but would add pressure in the upcoming fixtures. With so much at stake, we can expect a hard-fought and intense clash, with the hosts determined to spoil England’s plans and the visitors eager to claim a fifth straight victory to seal their qualification path.

Serbia’s Recent Form and Key Stats

Serbia approach this clash against England with great confidence, thanks to a seven-game unbeaten run and their recent 1-0 win away in Latvia. That victory lifted Dragan Petkovic’s men to second place in Group K with 7 points, coming from wins over Andorra and Latvia plus a draw in their opening match against Albania.

The most encouraging stat for the Serbs is their defensive solidity: they have not conceded a single goal in the first three rounds. However, this record must be assessed considering the relatively modest level of their opponents so far.

In attack, Serbia have shown decent consistency with an average of just over one goal per game. Their top scorer is Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has netted 3 of the 4 goals scored by the Balkan side.

Home advantage is another strength: in their last 7 matches in Belgrade, Serbia have recorded 4 wins and 3 draws, a factor that could weigh heavily against a top-tier opponent like England.

England’s Recent Form and Key Stats

With their 2-0 win over Andorra in the latest Group K fixture, England secured their seventh consecutive victory across the UEFA Nations League and World Cup Qualifiers. It’s been a flawless run for the Three Lions, who top the standings with 12 points from four wins, all achieved with clean sheets and an average of 2 goals per match.

Injuries to Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer force Gareth Southgate’s squad to rely almost entirely on Harry Kane, already with 3 goals in the opening 4 games and the team’s main attacking threat.

Defensively, England remain rock solid: Pickford and his backline have collected 5 clean sheets in their last 6 competitive matches, confirming themselves among the most reliable defenses in international football.

Their away record is also impressive: England come into this game with four straight away wins, averaging 2.25 goals scored and just 0.25 conceded per match. In World Cup qualifiers, the Three Lions have lost only once in their last six away fixtures.

Serbia vs England Prediction and Tactical Overview

Serbia and England have both showcased strong defensive performances in the opening rounds of Group K, with neither team conceding a goal so far in this World Cup qualifying campaign.

This solidity has partly compensated for some attacking struggles, allowing both to secure the top two spots in the table without shining offensively. For England, the lack of firepower is understandable due to injuries to key players like Saka and Cole Palmer, but against Serbia they will need to step up to secure all three points.

Given the current difficulties in the attacking departments of both sides, the BetMines algorithm predicts a low-scoring encounter with no more than two goals overall.

The Under 2.5 goals outcome has occurred in eight of Serbia’s last ten matches, as well as in the only previous meeting between these two nations, on June 16, 2024, when England won 1-0 in the group stage of the European Championship thanks to a Jude Bellingham goal, who is currently sidelined with an injury.

• Prediction Serbia vs England by BetMines: Under 2.5 goals with 55% probability
  
  
• Prediction Serbia vs England by BetMines: Over 2.5 goals with 45% probability

Probable Lineups Serbia vs England

SERBIA (3-5-2): Petrovic; Milenkovic, Erakovic, Pavlovic; Zivkovic, Gudelj, Maksimovic, Samardzic, Terzic; Mitrovic, Vlahovic. Coach: Dragan Stojkovic

ENGLAND (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis-Skelly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Rogers, Gordon; Kane. Coach: Thomas Tuchel