It was a celebratory night at Rujevica as the Croatia national team played its last home match of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands. They needed only a point to secure their spot in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year — and indeed, they succeeded.
Lineups
Croatia: Livaković; Stanišić, Vušković, Gvardiol; Marco Pašalić, Modrić, Sučić, Perišić; Mario Pašalić, Kramarić; Musa
Faroe Islands: Lamhauge; Faero, Vatnhamar, Edmundsson; Joensen, Turi, Andreasen, Davidsen; Frederiksberg, Olsen, Sorensen
Match report
Croatia had its first real chance of the match in the 12th minute, but it was the Faroe Islands to find the back of the net first. In the 16th minute, Turi stole the ball in midfield, drove forward and fired from the edge of the box. His effort took a heavy deflection off Luka Vušković and wrong-footed Livaković for 1–0. A shock, but a short-lived one. Seven minutes later, after Perišić’s cross caused chaos in the box, Joško Gvardiol smashed a left-footed finish into the net to level the score.
Croatia pushed for more. Modrić tested Lamhauge twice, Sučić drew fouls in dangerous positions and Musa battled for every ball. The best moment came late in the half when Modrić lined up a free-kick from 17 metres, but hit the wall. The whistle blew on an unexpectedly tense first 45 minutes.
At halftime, Dalić made an immediate change, bringing in Šutalo and switching back to a four-man defense. Croatia responded with urgency. In the 51st minute, Kramarić floated a cross toward Musa, but the visitors held firm. A minute later came the moment that nearly turned the match. Stanišić curled in a perfect ball, Kramarić slipped away from his marker and headed just wide from six meters.
In the 57th minute, Stanišić again sparked the move. He fed Petar Musa, who took a clean first touch and lashed in a powerful finish from close range for 2-1! His first international goal, scored on his return to the national team after two years.
Then the moment that fully broke the match open came in the 70th minute. Perišić, who was lively all evening, slid in a perfect ball from the left. Vlašić met it in stride and finished from close range. 3-1 for Croatia!
In the 80th minute, Knudsen slipped into the box, but Livaković closed the angle brilliantly and made a decisive save. Croatia controlled the last 10 minutes with no real threat from the Faroe Islands. Croatia even had 585 passes completed to their 84.
Croatia has had a wildly successful World Cup qualifying campaign, winning all games with one draw so far.
Croatia now heads to Podgorica to face Montenegro on Monday for their final World Cup qualifier. The 2026 World Cup draw is held on Friday, December 5th.
Bravo, Croatia!
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