German National Team to Play Serbia Behind Closed Doors in Nations League

The German national soccer team will play its upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Serbia on November 13, 2026, in an entirely empty stadium. The German Football Association confirmed on Thursday that the fixture at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in Belgrade will take place without any spectators present, following a final and binding ruling by European soccer's governing body.

The strict disciplinary action stems from racist and discriminatory behavior exhibited by Serbian fans during recent Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Netherlands. In addition to the complete stadium closure, the Serbian football federation was handed a fine of 50,000 euros by the UEFA.

Up until recently, the Serbian federation had held out hope for a partial exemption that would have allowed children with accompanying adults and approximately 2,000 visiting German fans into the arena, which holds more than 50,000 seats. However, those efforts failed as the UEFA ruling remained final, leaving all sections of the stadium empty.

The DFB informed ticket applicants about the development in a written statement, expressing regret over the situation. "We were in close contact with the UEFA and the Serbian federation and would have wished for better news for you," the association wrote, confirming that traveling German supporters will also be barred from attending.

Playing in front of empty stands is not a completely unfamiliar scenario for either team in this matchup. During the reverse fixture in Munich's Allianz Arena earlier in October, Serbian fans were similarly prohibited from attending, and the German squad secured a 2–0 victory, marking the first win for manager Jürgen Klopp in his role.

From a sporting perspective, the trip to Belgrade arrives at a critical juncture for Klopp's squad. After four group matches in Group A2, the German team has accumulated only five points, leaving them trailing behind expectations. The Netherlands and Greece currently lead the group with eight points each.

With only the top two teams in the group advancing to the quarterfinals, every single point is vital for the German team. A defeat in Belgrade could severely jeopardize their standing ahead of the final group stage encounter against the Netherlands, which is scheduled to take place just three days later at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.