The Albanian national team waited 16 years from its creation to its first game against Yugoslavia on October 7th, 1946 in Tirana. Organisational problems seem to have been the main cause. That and the Second World War. They were, however, invited to the 1934 World Cup across the Adriatic Sea in Italy but declined.
Albania's first encounter with England was in the qualifying tournament for the 1990 World Cup - in fact all the matches between the two teams have been during World Cup Qualifying. England have won all so far.
ALB, 21st Mar 2025, 2 - 0 (WCQ)