Andrija Živković

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Andrija Živković's FIFA World Cup 2026 Prospects Dimmed as Serbia Fails to Qualify

Andrija Živković, the 29-year-old Serbian winger, will not be participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the Serbian national football team has unfortunately failed to qualify for the tournament. Serbia finished third in their UEFA qualification group, behind England and Albania, missing out on a direct qualification spot and a play-off berth. This marks a significant blow to Živković's World Cup aspirations.

Current Form and Club Performance

Despite the national team's setback, Živković has been an active player for his club, PAOK, during the 2024-2025 and ongoing 2025-2026 seasons. In the current 2025-2026 Super League season in Greece, he has scored 1 goal in 13 matches. His overall goal involvement (goals + assists) stands at 9 for the season, equating to 0.83 per 90 minutes. His non-penalty expected goals (npxG) per 90 minutes is 0.08, placing him in the top 53 percentile of Super League players.

In the 2024-2025 season, Živković had a more prolific output, scoring 11 goals and providing 8 assists in 46 appearances across various competitions for PAOK. His performance statistics from previous seasons also indicate consistent contributions in the Greek Super League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League.

Živković, primarily a right-winger, has showcased his ability to contribute offensively, with a career total of 90 goals and 80 assists in 448 matches. He has been a key player for PAOK since joining in 2020.

National Team Involvement and Injury Status

Andrija Živković has been a regular in the Serbia national team, making his debut in 2013 and accumulating 61 international caps with 1 goal. He was part of Serbia's squad for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, playing in all three group stage matches in the 2022 tournament and notably providing two assists against Cameroon. He has also featured in UEFA Nations League matches for Serbia.

Regarding his fitness, a "knee injury" was recently mentioned in his injury history, but no further details on its severity or current impact on his playing time have been widely reported. He has been included in recent Serbia squads for World Cup Qualifiers in October and November 2025, suggesting he was fit to be called up by then.

Analysis of FIFA World Cup 2026 Prospects

With Serbia's elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Andrija Živković's prospects for playing in the tournament are non-existent. The focus for Živković and the Serbian national team will now likely shift towards future competitions, such as the UEFA Nations League and the UEFA European Championship qualifiers. His continued strong club form will be crucial for maintaining his place in the national squad as they regroup for upcoming challenges.