Croatia secured their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico after rallying to beat the Faroe Islands 3–1 in a pivotal qualifier on Friday.
The match, played in Rijeka, got off to a shocking start when Faroe Islands midfielder Geza Dávid Turi broke forward to score against expectations in the 16th minute. But they responded quickly: Joško Gvardiol equalised just seven minutes later with a powerful left-footed strike.
In the second half, they took control. Petar Musa gave them the lead in the 57th minute with a composed finish at the near post. Then Nikola Vlašić sealed the win in the 70th minute, side-footing in from Ivan Perišić’s cross.
The victory put Croatia on 19 points in Group L, six clear of second-placed Czech Republic—making it mathematically impossible for the Czechs to catch them with one game remaining.
The result also ends the Faroes’ hopes of making the playoffs. Despite their low ranking (127th in FIFA), they had mounted a strong qualifying campaign and even briefly led this matchup.
Luka Modrić, Croatia’s captain, will head to his fifth World Cup as a key figure in the squad. He acknowledged the team’s achievement, calling qualification “no small thing” for a country of just under four million people.
With qualification confirmed, Croatia now turn their attention to the final group game—but coach Zlatko Dalić can now approach it with less pressure and more focus on preparation for next summer’s tournament.
This qualification cements Croatia’s status as a regular contender on the world stage, following strong showings in recent major tournaments.
