Serbia national football team
The Football Federation of what was then the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes founded itself in Zagreb during 1919. Jovan Ružić became the first Serb to represent the national team in its international debut match at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. A Czechoslovakia squad defeated that early Serbian side by a score of 7, 0. In 1921, Belgrade organized a friendly against France dubbed the "Serbian representatives" featuring players from SK Jugoslavija and BSK clubs. Prince Regent Aleksandar I attended this match alongside FIFA President Jules Rimet on the 3rd of July. The French delegation won that exhibition game 3, 0 before departing for their final stop in Belgrade's SK Jugoslavija Stadium. During the lead-up to the 1930 World Cup, a dispute over moving headquarters from Zagreb to Belgrade caused a boycott by the Zagreb Subassociation. Boško Simonović coached a de facto Serbian team composed largely of players from Belgrade's BSK, SK Jugoslavija and BASK clubs. This group reached the semi-final but lost 6, 1 to hosts Uruguay who eventually won the tournament. Royal interbellum era footballers included Blagoje Marjanović, Aleksandar Tirnanić, Milorad Arsenijević, Đorđe Vujadinović, Branislav Sekulić and Milutin Ivković. The national team ceased activities during World War II but reformed following the end of hostilities.
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed on the 27th of April 1992 with teams banned from all international sporting events due to U.N. sanctions stemming from conflict in Yugoslavia. The national team did not play its first game as a new country before the 23rd of December 1994, a friendly match played in Porto Alegre where Brazil won 2, 0. Slobodan Santrač became the team's first ever manager for this inaugural match. The next game occurred three days later in Buenos Aires resulting in a 1, 0 loss to Argentina. International sanctions prevented participation in 1994 World Cup qualifying nor Euro 1996 qualifying process until 1998. As FR Yugoslavia joined FIFA and UEFA in 1994, the team qualified for the 1998 World Cup after winning 12, 1 on aggregate against Hungary. Yugoslavia finished second in Group F behind Germany on goal difference after beating Iran 1, 0 and drawing Germany 2, 2. They faced the Netherlands in the Round of 16 losing 1, 0 despite a header from Komljenović equalizing earlier. Vladimir Jugović was fouled leading to a penalty that Predrag Mijatović missed. Edgar Davids scored from 20 meters to beat goalkeeper Ivica Kralj in late seconds. The quarter-finals saw Yugoslavia paired with the Netherlands again losing 6, 1 in Rotterdam. Patrick Kluivert scored a hat-trick while Savo Milošević finished as joint top scorer alongside him with five goals each.
Serbia participated in the 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups but failed to progress past the group stage on each occasion. On the 3rd of June 2006 following a referendum Montenegro declared its independence leading to separate football federations which resulted in the team's final renaming as Serbia national football team. In the 2006 tournament Serbia lost their opening game to the Netherlands 1, 0 before losing 6, 0 to Argentina marking their worst ever international result. A 3, 2 loss against Ivory Coast left them with no points. Radomir Antić coached Serbia to automatic qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa confirming it with a 5, 0 home victory against Romania. Their opening group game was against Ghana ending in a 1, 0 defeat after Asamoah Gyan converted eight minutes from full-time. Serbia defeated Germany by a score of 1, 0 with a goal by Milan Jovanović in the first half. They faced Australia losing 2, 1 despite a late Marko Pantelić goal serving only as consolation finishing last in the group. The 2014 campaign saw Siniša Mihajvić appointed coach on the 24th of April 2012. Serbia drew 1, 1 with Croatia at home where 18-year-old Aleksandar Mitrović scored an equalizer after Mario Mandžukić opened scoring. They qualified for Euro 2024 after finishing second in Group G with 14 points following a crucial final game against Bulgaria ending in a 2, 2 draw. In the tournament they lost 1, 0 to England drawing 1, 1 with Slovenia before coming up a 0, 0 draw against Denmark resulting in elimination.
The rivalry between Serbia and Croatia stems from political roots listed as one of the ten greatest international rivalries by Goal.com. The two sides started the football rivalry in 1990 when they were part of Yugoslavia which dissolved after a series of wars. The nations have played four times with Croatia winning one and drawing three games. The rivalry between Serbia and Albania stems from historical tensions and the Kosovo question. Albania has won two matches while Serbia has won one match so far. The rivalry connected to Switzerland involves Albanian diaspora players in the Swiss team linked to tensions between Albanians and Serbs. Teams have faced each other four times with Switzerland winning twice and Serbia once. During Euro 2016 qualifiers a game against Albania in Belgrade was abandoned due to crowd trouble after a drone carrying an Albanian flag flew over the pitch. UEFA originally awarded Serbia a 3, 0 victory but deducted three points before Court of Arbitration for Sport reversed the decision on the 10th of July 2015 awarding Albania a 3, 0 victory. In 2024 qualifying Serbia lost 1, 2 to Hungary behind closed doors due to UEFA sanctioning chants against Montenegrins.
The badge of the Football Association of Serbia is modelled on the Serbian cross inescutcheon featured on the Serbian coat of arms. It consists of a modified version of the four firesteels and cross with addition of a football. The team is nicknamed "the Eagles" referencing the white double-headed eagle as national symbol of Serbia. A second nickname called "the Blues" comes from blue kits worn from 1920s to 2006 and again from 2025. From 1994 to 2006 the obsolete Communist era anthem "Hej, Sloveni" was often jeered booed and whistled by home supporters as players refrained from singing lyrics. During this period the team continued to officially carry old nickname Plavi badge and kit design indicative of Yugoslav tricolour. Following secession of Montenegro in 2006 national team adopted red shirts blue shorts and white socks honoring Serbian tricolour. Between 2010 and 2016 a cross motif inspired by country's coat of arms incorporated into jersey. In years Serbia utilized all-red uniforms due to FIFA kit clash regulations. Away kits most commonly white with blue or white shorts. In 2025 team officially returned to traditional blue jerseys mostly approved by public. Rajko Mitić Stadium holds 53,000 capacity serving largest venue in Serbia for international fixtures.
Dušan Tadić stands as Serbia's most-capped player with 111 appearances between 2008 and 2024 scoring 23 goals. Branislav Ivanović follows with 105 caps and 13 goals while Aleksandar Mitrović has 104 caps and 63 goals making him top scorer. Dejan Stanković became only player to feature in World Cup having played under three different national names without changing nationality. Savo Milošević held previous record with 102 appearances before Stanković surpassed it. Dragan Džajić earned 85 caps scoring 23 goals during career spanning 1964 to 1979. Dragan Stojković accumulated 84 caps and 15 goals from 1983 to 2001. Vladimir Stojković made 84 appearances as goalkeeper between 2006 and 2011. Zoran Tošić earned 76 caps scoring 11 goals from 2007 to 2016. Stjepan Bobek scored 38 goals in 63 caps achieving ratio of 0.60. Milan Galić netted 37 goals across 51 games playing 1959 to 1965. Blagoje Marjanović also scored 37 goals in 58 matches from 1926 to 1938. Rajko Mitić contributed 32 goals over 59 caps from 1946 to 1957. Todor Veselinović added 28 goals in 37 games while Predrag Mijatović scored 27 in 73 matches.
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Common questions
When was the Football Federation of what was then the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes founded?
The Football Federation of what was then the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes founded itself in Zagreb during 1919. Jovan Ružić became the first Serb to represent the national team in its international debut match at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp.
Who is the most capped player for the Serbia national football team?
Dušan Tadić stands as Serbia's most-capped player with 111 appearances between 2008 and 2024 scoring 23 goals. Branislav Ivanović follows with 105 caps and 13 goals while Aleksandar Mitrović has 104 caps and 63 goals making him top scorer.
What happened to the Serbia national football team during World War II?
The national team ceased activities during World War II but reformed following the end of hostilities. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed on the 27th of April 1992 with teams banned from all international sporting events due to U.N. sanctions stemming from conflict in Yugoslavia.
Why did the Serbia national football team change its name after 2006?
On the 3rd of June 2006 following a referendum Montenegro declared its independence leading to separate football federations which resulted in the team's final renaming as Serbia national football team. During this period the team continued to officially carry old nickname Plavi badge and kit design indicative of Yugoslav tricolour.
How many times have Serbia and Croatia played each other in football matches?
The two sides started the football rivalry in 1990 when they were part of Yugoslavia which dissolved after a series of wars. The nations have played four times with Croatia winning one and drawing three games.