The match kicks off at 8:45 p.m. at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
Poland finished second in their qualifying group behind the Netherlands, missing out on automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup and advancing to the playoffs.
The Poles enter the semifinal with a strong recent record in such games, having reached the last World Cup and qualified for Euro 2024 through the playoff route.
"Yes, they have experience," coach Jan Urban told reporters on Wednesday. "But they won’t be thinking about having played such matches before—they’ll focus on what we’ve planned and how we want to play against this team."
Urban warned that past success would count for little against a well-organised Albania side.
"In each of the recent matches we’ve played against them, they’ve caused us more problems," he said. "That’s also because they have a very stable squad and have been working with the same coach for three years."
Poland leads the head-to-head record with Albania, winning 10 matches and losing two, but the most recent meeting in 2023 ended in a defeat as Albania topped their European championship qualifying group.
Poland players led by captain Robert Lewandowski during a training session in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański
Urban took charge in July following the resignation of Michał Probierz after a dispute over the captaincy of Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, Poland’s all-time leading scorer.
Lewandowski has since been reinstated as captain.
"I strongly believe we’ll manage to advance," Lewandowski said on Monday. "Albania are always a difficult opponent, but we’re playing at home. I hope we can control the game and win.”
Albania has been coached by former Brazil international Sylvinho since 2023.
"I expect quite an open game," Urban said. "They are capable of surprising—I just hope it won’t be tomorrow."
If Poland win, they will face either Ukraine or Sweden in Tuesday’s playoff final for a place at the World Cup. The loser will play a friendly on March 31.
Poland’s 25-man squad includes Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zieliński and Aston Villa defender Matty Cash, while Feyenoord’s Jakub Moder returns after a long injury absence.
Goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski is sidelined with a thigh injury, and Nicola Zalewski is suspended.
Seventeen-year-old Oskar Pietuszewski has received his first call-up.
Poland are ranked 34th in the world by football's governing body FIFA, while Albania are No. 63
The World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Source: IAR, PAP, laczynaspilka.pl