The Croatia national team kept its 100% record in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers alive with a 1-0 victory on the road against the Faroe Islands. Andrej Kramarić delivered the decisive strike in the 31st minute.

With the win, Croatia now sits on nine points from three matches, second in Group L behind the Czech Republic, who lead with 12 points but have played two more games than the Vatreni.

Lineups

Faroe Islands: Lamhauge – Edmundsson, Vatnhamar, Faero – Davidsen, Andreasen, Hendriksson, Danielsen – Sorensen, Olsen, Frederiksberg

Croatia: Livaković – Jakić, Pongračić, Ćaleta-Car, Sosa – Mario Pasalić, Sučić – Majer, Kramarić, Fruk – Budimir

The match opened with a scare. Just five minutes in, the Faroes broke quickly and Arni Frederiksberg found Hanus Sorensen behind the Croatian back line. Sorensen went one-on-one with Dominik Livaković, but the keeper came up big with a save, and Mario Pašalić cleared the rebound off the line to deny an early home lead.

Croatia gradually settled into the game and began creating danger from the wings and set pieces. In the 12th minute, Fruk’s header from a corner forced a strong save from Faroes keeper Mattias Lamhauge. Just four minutes later, Kristijan Jakić threatened in a similar fashion, only for Lamhauge to come up big again.

The hosts remained dangerous on the counter. In the 20th minute, Sorensen once again slipped past the back line but fired wide. Croatia nearly struck eight minutes later when Petar Sučić’s long-range effort rattled off the post.

That was the warning sign before the breakthrough. In the 31st minute, Jakić broke free down the right and crossed for Ante Budimir, whose header set up Kramarić to make it 1–0.

Croatia pushed for a second before halftime. Kramarić saw another shot saved and Jakić sent the rebound wide, but the score held going into the break.

The second half brought fewer chances. Kramarić had the best chance to seal it, missing narrowly in the 71st minute from Ivanović’s assist and then firing into the side netting from Perišić’s cross minutes later.

The Faroes tried to create danger from set pieces late on, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Lamhauge capped his outstanding performance with two big saves in stoppage time, denying Smolčić and Ćaleta-Car.

With the win secured, Croatia now turns to Monday’s historic first-ever meeting with Montenegro at Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb (kickoff 20:45 local time). The Faroes travel to Gibraltar the same day.


 


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