The rivalry is considered to be one of the most bitter in the world owing to the events that took place relatively recently during the Kosovo War.

At the UEFA Euro 2016 qualification game, the first association football match between Albania and Serbia took place on 14 October 2014, at Partizan Stadium in Belgrade.

[16] A few hours before the kickoff, the Albanian police carried out riots, firing water cannon bursts as a helicopter buzzed over nearby buildings.

The only sign of the intense rivalry was the loud booing by Albanian fans during the Serbian national anthem.

[17][18] Many fans were shocked to see Albania and Serbia put in the same group due to past incidents in the 2016 Euro qualification games.