by croatiaweek
November 9, 2025
in
(Photo: HNS)
Croatia’s Under-17 national team have advanced to the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar after a confident 3-1 victory over Costa Rica in their final Group C match.
Goals from Krešimir Radoš (35’), Raul Kumar (55’) and Tino Kusanović (89’) secured the win for the young Croatian side, while Raul Cordero (58’) scored the lone goal for Costa Rica.
The result sees Marijan Budimir’s side finish second in Group C, having earlier defeated the UAE 3-0 and drawn 0-0 with Senegal.
With two wins and a draw, Croatia currently sit as the best second-placed team heading into the knockout stage. Their next opponents will be confirmed once the group stage concludes.
Croatia started strongly and quickly took control of possession. In the 17th minute, they came close to opening the scoring when a shot from captain Karlo Pajsar was cleared off the line, followed moments later by Jona Benkotić rattling the crossbar.
Persistent pressure paid off in the 35th minute when Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Krešimir Radoš met a perfect cross from Pajsar to give Croatia a deserved 1-0 lead.
Early in the second half, Raul Kumar doubled the advantage, rising highest to head home from a corner in the 55th minute. Costa Rica replied just three minutes later through Cordero, whose long-range strike gave goalkeeper Ivan Barišić no chance, Croatia’s first goal conceded at the tournament.
Both teams had penalties briefly awarded but later overturned after VAR checks. Croatia continued to create chances, and finally sealed the win in the 89th minute when Nürnberg striker Tino Kusanović made it 3-1 with a header from another Pajsar assist.
Looking ahead
In the group’s other match, Senegal defeated the UAE 5-0 to claim top spot on goal difference. Croatia now move on to the Round of 16, set for 14 and 15 November, full of confidence after two impressive wins and an unbeaten group campaign.