As the fans fill the stands, the teams prepare the final details before taking to the field. It is the last day and Group L’s activity is coming to an end. Everything has already been decided and they are playing for the honor of representing their country.
Join us this afternoon for the conclusion of Group L, where Montenegro hosts Croatia in a match that could redefine the final standings for the 2026 World Cup. The atmosphere is beginning to build inside and outside the stadium, with fans already arriving.
We’ll soon be sharing the starting lineups from Podgorica City Stadium, as well as the latest news on both teams and the atmosphere ahead of this final qualifying match.
Although the group has already been decided, this match will serve to evaluate performances, close the qualifying cycle, and see how each team bids farewell or looks ahead to North America 2026. Stay tuned for every update here at VAVEL.
If you want to watch Montenegro vs. Croatia in USA, coverage will not be available.
If you prefer to watch it via streaming, you can do so through VIX Premium.
And if you want to follow the match minute by minute, with group analysis, context of simultaneous games, and all the official information, VAVEL is the best option to accompany you during this match day.
The history between the two teams is brief: only one match, on September 8, 2025, with Croatia winning by a total score of 4 goals. Montenegro has not managed to score or earn any points against this opponent, reflecting the difference in ranking between the two teams.
Croatia comes into the match confident after dominating this single previous encounter, while Montenegro will be looking to break that trend and end its qualifying campaign with a historic result against the group leader. Despite the difference in squads, Montenegro will want to grow at home, so this match remains competitively attractive.
Croatia comes into the match without pressure, having already secured first place in Group L and confirmed their direct ticket to the 2026 World Cup since the previous matchday. The team has performed solidly and consistently, displaying mature soccer and a great balance between experience and generational transition.
This match represents an opportunity to rotate the squad, give young players some playing time, and fine-tune details before focusing on final preparations for North America. Despite having nothing to play for in the table, Croatia usually competes with intensity and will seek to maintain its positive streak at the close of the group stage.
Montenegro comes into this match already eliminated, but with the intention of bidding farewell with dignity in front of its fans. The team has had some good moments during the qualifying round, especially at home, but inconsistency and a lack of goals in key matches left them with no options several rounds ago.
Even so, the team is looking to end the campaign on a positive note, give playing time to players who could be important in the next cycle, and show a competitive identity.
