Veljko Paunovic targets Wembley reset as Serbia fight to keep World Cup 2026 hopes alive
TL;DR: Veljko Paunovic steps into the Serbia job with an urgent brief and little time to spare. The new head coach opens away to England at Wembley and then hosts Latvia on Sunday, seeking to salvage World Cup 2026 qualifying hopes from a precarious position. England have been near perfect in the group, outscoring opponents 18-0 and winning 5-0 in Belgrade in September. Paunovic, recently dismissed by Real Oviedo despite leading a long-awaited return to the top division, says rebuilding belief and clarity is the immediate priority while drawing motivation from his late father’s legacy and his own winding career.
There is no easing in for Veljko Paunovic. The new Serbia head coach walks into Wembley with two matches to repair a campaign and a lifetime of football experiences shaping his approach. Serbia sit third in their section and face a steep climb to stay alive in World Cup qualifying, beginning on Thursday night against England before a decisive home date with Latvia on Sunday.
The scale of the assignment is obvious. England have been flawless so far, racking up 18 goals without conceding and running out emphatic 5-0 winners in Belgrade in September. Even if Serbia collect maximum points this week, progress could still hinge on results elsewhere and, if a top-two finish proves elusive, two playoff ties would be needed to reach the tournament.
Veljko Paunovic returns to Wembley with an urgent brief
For Paunovic, the fixture carries personal resonance. His father, Blagoje Paunovic, won 39 caps for Yugoslavia and often recounted milestone occasions: being invited to Pelé’s farewell at the Maracanã in 1971, the run to the Euro 1968 final against Italy, and the decisive win over England in Florence that took them there. Those recollections live with the son, who now leads Serbia into England’s national stadium against one of the most complete national teams in world football.
Paunovic speaks of closing circles and of a journey that took him from Belgrade’s Partizan academy to Spain as a teenager, then across Russia, Germany and the United States as a player, and later into coaching roles in Serbia’s youth system and clubs in Europe and North America. The meeting with England, he believes, is both a test of his team and a moment connecting generations.
From Oviedo exit to Serbia call in 21 days
The job arrived quickly. Paunovic was dismissed by Real Oviedo two days before Serbia’s home defeat to Albania last month. That decision surprised many in Asturias given he had guided Oviedo back to the top flight after a 25-year absence, and his side had recently beaten Valencia and Real Sociedad. They were just above the drop zone when he departed, though they have fallen into it since. Twenty-one days later, he accepted the national role.
Accelerated timelines are nothing new for him. He had spent only 24 days between leaving Tigres and taking the Oviedo post. The rapid turnarounds reinforce a theme that runs through his career: respond, organize, adapt. It is the same mantra he brings to Serbia’s touchline this week.
Formed abroad, shaped by Partizan values
Paunovic left home at 17 for Atlético Madrid, an opportunity and an ordeal rolled into one. He often reflects on the effect of leaving so young and on the missteps that followed. Injuries in his late twenties changed the way he viewed the game. He began marshalling teammates on the pitch, laying the groundwork for a future in coaching. He took his first badge at 29, completed practical work at Atlético’s academy under Claudio Arzeno, who now assists him, and studied across multiple disciplines at the Spanish federation.
He credits Partizan’s schooling and his father’s “codes” with instilling the discipline he leans on now: clarity, responsibility and collective effort. The cosmopolitan path that followed gave him languages and perspectives, from MLS with Chicago to England with Reading and on to Mexico and Spain. He calls his spell in England transformative, citing a strong first season with Reading and a second marked by an embargo and points deduction. Avoiding relegation under those constraints, he says, hardened his methods and sharpened his focus.
2015 youth champions now at the core
Before club detours, Paunovic made his name guiding Serbia’s under-20s to a remarkable world title in 2015. That team endured extra time in the last 16, quarter-final, semi-final and final, where Nemanja Maksimovic struck in the 118th minute to defeat Brazil. Many from that cohort now form the backbone of the senior side he takes to London, a continuity he believes can accelerate implementation.
The new coach says the immediate job is to simplify. The group has depth and quality, he argues, but needs a quick injection of belief. He talks about confronting ego, a recurring challenge in Balkan football, and empowering “alpha” leaders to set standards. Detail matters, even down to the soundtrack in the dressing room. He has a playlist ready but would be just as happy to see players take charge, reading mood and identity through rhythm and volume as part of the team’s culture.
History, motivation and a final call for a generation
The long arc of the region’s football history is never far from Paunovic’s thoughts. He recalls the shock of 1992, when Yugoslavia were removed from the European Championship under international sanctions and Denmark took their place and then the trophy. He feels the sport still owes something to Serbian football for that rupture. Two decades later, he sees a measure of restitution in the 2015 world youth crown, won by players born in 1995, the same year his own generation was barred from qualifying.
Personal history intersects with urgency now. He describes this international window as a last call for a group reaching its prime years. When Serbia’s federation presented a broader four-year vision, Paunovic pushed to concentrate on the present moment. Focus on now, he urged, because now is what the table demands. The rallying cry is simple enough: do not give up. He plans to remind his players that millions dream of seeing a match at Wembley and only a few get to play one. Those on the pitch, he says, can set echoes for the future.
Quick guide – Serbia’s week at a glance
- Head coach
- Veljko Paunovic
- Opponent
- England
- Venue
- Wembley Stadium, London
- Matchday
- Thursday 13 November 2025
- Group status
- Serbia third, World Cup hopes in the balance
- Next up
- Latvia at home on Sunday
| Game | Target | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| England away | Compete and get a result | Keeps hopes alive – other results may still matter |
| Latvia home | Must win | Could lead to playoffs or better, depending on standings |
| If third place | Playoff route | Two knockout ties to reach the World Cup |
FAQ
Why was Paunovic appointed now?
Serbia needed a rapid reset after a damaging September. With two matches left, the federation turned to a coach who has navigated crisis scenarios and short runways before.
How strong are England in this group?
They have scored 18 and conceded none, including a 5-0 victory in Belgrade. Their depth and variety make them a formidable opponent at Wembley.
What defines Paunovic’s approach?
Clarity, collective responsibility and confidence building. He leans on lessons from Partizan, international experience, and a willingness to simplify quickly. He also reads team culture through small details, even the music in the dressing room.
Which generation does he trust most?
Several members of the 2015 under-20 world champions, a team he coached to the title, now underpin the senior squad. Nemanja Maksimovic scored the 118th-minute winner in that final against Brazil.
Beyond tactics and selection, the new coach is leaning on something intangible yet powerful: a sense of duty. He sees Thursday as a stage to reframe Serbia’s story. England represent the toughest test in the group, yet they also offer the chance to change momentum in one night. For Veljko Paunovic, that is worth all the circles traced on the path back to Wembley.