Croatia Qualify for 2026 World Cup, Netherlands Close, Germany in Limbo
Croatia booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in North America with an unconvincing 3-1 win over the in-form Faroe Islands on Friday as the Netherlands all but booked their spot in the finals too.
Germany’s qualification hopes still rest on their final Group A match on Monday at home to Slovakia despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a labored 2-0 win at Luxembourg.
After Geza David Turi had given the Faroes a shock lead, strikes from Josko Gvardiol, Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic in Rijeka handed 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia their ticket to the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Victory gave Croatia a six point lead over the Czech Republic at the top of Group L with just a single game left to play.
“For Croatia, for the fans!” a jubilant Gvardiol posted on his X account.
But it was a night when the underdogs struck fear into more illustrious opponents, although without managing to strike a telling blow.
The Faroes, who were on a three-match winning run and still harbored faint hopes of qualification, had the audacity to take the lead against opponents who only needed a draw to progress.
Turi picked up the ball just inside the Croatia half and strode forwards unmolested before trying his luck from outside the box and benefiting from a heavy deflection to beat Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal on 16 minutes.
The lead lasted only seven minutes before Manchester City defender Gvardiol lashed in an equalizer after some hesitant Faroes defending.
With the evergreen Luka Modric still pulling the strings in Croatia’s midfield at 40 on the occasion of his 193rd cap, the hosts gradually took control.
