Anti-government protests force Conference League game to be moved out of Albanian capital Tirana
A protester wears a traditional costume and a tear gas mask during clashes as students joined an anti-government demonstration in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Credit: AP/Hameraldi Agolli
TIRANA, Albania — Anti-government student protests in Albania’s capital Tirana have pushed UEFA to move a Europa Conference League game out of the city.
UEFA said in a statement that Egnatia would now host Midtjylland in Elbasan later on Thursday after “discussions with local authorities in light of the ongoing protests in Tirana.”
The game in the third-tier European competition will still kick off at 6:45 p.m. local time (16:45 GMT) with fans allowed inside Elbasan Arena, UEFA said.
Elbasan is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Tirana, which is seeing a third day of protests against the Socialist government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
Rama is under pressure to resign during months of protests against alleged corruption, including a development project tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
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