Luka Jović

World Cup 2026 Analysis

Luka Jović's prospects for the FIFA World Cup 2026 have unfortunately concluded, as the Serbia national team has been eliminated from the qualifiers for the 2026 tournament. This news, reported on November 14, 2025, follows a 2-0 defeat to England, with Albania securing the final playoff spot in Serbia's group.

Despite this setback for the national team, Jović has recently experienced a significant upturn in his club career and remains a part of the Serbian national squad.

Latest News and Analysis:

• Club Resurgence at AEK Athens: After a challenging period at AC Milan, where he battled injuries and limited playing time, Luka Jović made a move to Greek club AEK Athens on August 5, 2025, signing a two-year contract. This transfer has revitalized his form, and he has become a key player for AEK Athens. In the 2025/2026 season, Jović is the club's top goalscorer, having netted 11 goals and provided 1 assist in 24 appearances across various competitions, including Super League 1, the UEFA Conference League, and the Greek Cup. His impact was immediate, as he scored on his debut, helping AEK Athens qualify for the UEFA Conference League group stage.
• Consistent National Team Presence: Despite his struggles at AC Milan in the 2024-2025 season, which saw him excluded from their UEFA Champions League squad, Jović has consistently been called up to the Serbia national team. He featured in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers squads in June, September, and November 2025.
• Euro 2024 Impact: Jović was also part of Serbia's squad for UEFA Euro 2024, where he notably scored a crucial last-minute equalizer against Slovenia, a goal that was acknowledged by coach Dragan Stojkovic as a testament to the team's fighting spirit. He has accumulated over 45 caps for Serbia since 2018, scoring 11 goals, and has represented his country in major tournaments including the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and Euro 2024.
• Competition for Striker Roles: While Serbia will not be participating in the 2026 World Cup, Jović's continued inclusion in the national team highlights his standing among Serbia's top attacking options. He competes with other prominent strikers such as Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Rayyan), and Petar Ratkov (Red Bull Salzburg).
• Dusan Vlahovic, 25, is a regular starter for Juventus and the national team, with 8 goals and 2 assists in 22 matches for his club in 2025/2026.
• Aleksandar Mitrovic, 31, remains Serbia's all-time leading goalscorer. After a prolific period with Al Hilal, he moved to Al Rayyan in September 2025, scoring 3 goals and 1 assist in 7 appearances in the current 2025/2026 season.
• Petar Ratkov, 22, has shown strong form for Red Bull Salzburg in 2025/2026, contributing 12 goals and 3 assists in 31 appearances.
• Coach's Perspective: Dragan Stojkovic, the head coach of the Serbia national team, has not made specific statements regarding Jović's long-term role for future tournaments, but his continued selection and praise for Jović's impactful goal in Euro 2024 suggest he values the striker's contributions.

In conclusion, while Luka Jović will not be participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to Serbia's elimination from the qualifiers, his recent move to AEK Athens has reignited his club career with impressive goalscoring form. His consistent call-ups to the national team and his ability to deliver in crucial moments, as seen in Euro 2024, indicate that he remains a valuable asset for Serbia in future international competitions.