The history of the Albania national football team dates back to the team's formation and first ever international match in 1946. History 1930–45: Founding and early years Although it never played any matches, the Albania national football team existed before the Albanian Football Association was created in 1930. This is witnessed by the registration of the Albanian team in the Balkan Cup tournament of 1929–1931, which started in 1929, a year before the creation of the association. Albania, however, eventually retired from the competition, before the competition itself started. FSHF was founded on 6 June 1930, and, in 1932, Albania joined FIFA (during the congress 12 June – 16 June), however no national team matches were registered until the first international match, a debut against Yugoslavia in 1946. In 1954, Albania was one of the founding members of UEFA. 1946: Champion of the Balkans The early years oversaw a notably successful Balkan Cup in the 1946 campaign. Albania won the cup after overcoming Yugoslavia on level points but a better goal difference. The final match ended in a 1–0 win against Romania. Four days earlier, Albania had already beaten Bulgaria 3–1. Albania wasn't expected to participate, but the withdrawal of Greece from the tournament offered Albania a chance to join in the re-established post-war cup. 1958–68: Between the best 16 Teams of the continent Albania did not participate in the qualifiers of the 1960 European Nations' Cup. Four years later, Albania competed in a Euro Cup competition and the only time Albania was between the best 16 teams of the continent, due to the matches against Greece being forfeited and Albania given walkover. In the first round Albania lost 4–0 to Denmark in the first leg, and while they won the second 1–0, they couldn't pass to the quarterfinals. At the end of the tournament Albania ranked 9th in Europe. Albania took part in the qualifiers for the 1966 World Cup in England, with Northern Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland. Albania's only point in the qualification round came from a 1–1 draw at home to Northern Ireland in Tirana, which denied Northern Ireland a place in the Finals. In the qualifiers for the UEFA Euro 1968, Albania had a 0–0 home draw with West Germany that denied the Germans the participation to the tournament. 1964-72 Albania participating in Football at the Summer Olympics qualifying tournaments Albania would participate for the first