Additional Challenge for Slovenia: Croatian captain selected Kosovo
The Croatian football public is controversial about the transfer of one of the most prominent young football players there, who chose the national team instead of playing for Croatia – Kosovo! It’s a footballer Veldin Hodzathe former captain of the Croatian national team under 21 and the product of the Rijeka Football School (today is only 22 years), who accepted the invitation of the Kosovo Football Association and will in the future act for their membership species that will also played with Slovenia in October and November.
In recent years, Veldin Hodža has been considered one of the most promising midfielders in Croatia, playing for all the younger selections of Croatia. He has made more than 40 appearances in the youth selections, and in the U-21 selection he also wore a captain’s tape, in the T-shirt of the selected U-21 he collected 21 matches and scored three goals (2022-2024), which is a lot for the position of defensive midfielder. Nevertheless, he did not receive an invitation to the Croatian national team, led by the selector Zlatko Dalićwhich clearly affected his decision.
Parents moved to the river 40 years ago
“It was a difficult decision for me, but I want to develop as a footballer and national team. I am grateful to Kosovo for the opportunity and believe that I can create something special with them, « said Hodža in an interview with the Croatian portal Index.
Veldin Hodža was born in Croatia on Rijeka, but comes from a family with roots in Restelica in southern Kosovo. Connecting to the birth of their ancestors and the desire to play an important role in the selected species were key factors that tilted the scale in favor of Kosovo.
Enver Hodza emerged in the younger selections of Rijeka. Photo: NK Rijeka
“My parents moved to the river 40 years ago, I was born there myself, I lived in Škurinje and Podhum. My family comes from Kosovo, there I spent many holidays myself, and the sense of belonging to Kosovo was always present with me. I want to play for the national team where I can leave a seal, « added the 22-year-old Rečan.
On the list as early as September
Hodza crossed from Rijeka to Russian Rubin Kazan last year, where he quickly established himself as a key midfielder. In the 2024/25 season, he made 26 appearances and scored two goals in the Russian Championship. Kosovo Selector Franco Foda It will already include Hodžo on the list of upcoming World Cup qualifying matches, which will be held in 2026 in the US, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
His debut is expected to happen in September against Switzerland or Sweden, in October Kosovo will also play with Slovenia, which is certainly awaited by demanding work in any case, as he is a qualifying group with Sweden, Switzerland, Kosovo and Slovenia that leads it selector Matjaz Kekone of the strongest and most equalized in Europe. Therefore, Slovenia will also « threaten » Slovenia.
In Croatia, his decision triggered shared responses. While some understand his choice as a legitimate personal decision, others see in this loss of a potential national team for the future.
