The Faroe Islands stunned the home crowd in Rijeka when Geza David Turi, representing Grimsby Town, drove forward and saw his shot take a deflection to give the visitors an early advantage.
Croatia quickly responded to the setback, refusing to let the game slip away in the opening stages. Seven minutes after falling behind, Josko Gvardiol struck with a powerful shot into the bottom corner, bringing the scores level.
The early exchanges set the tone for a tense encounter, as the minnows tried to hold off the Croatian attack while looking for opportunities on the counter.
Despite their spirited start, the Faroe Islands struggled to maintain momentum against a determined Croatian side that was hungry to secure qualification.
Croatia turns the game around
Croatia seized the lead when Petar Musa finished from close range, marking his first international appearance since 2023 with a decisive contribution.
Nikola Vlasic added further assurance to the result, converting Ivan Perisic’s cross to put the match beyond doubt.
The comeback victory allowed Croatia to celebrate securing a place at the 2026 World Cup with a match still to play in the qualification campaign.
Gvardiol, a Manchester City defender, reflected on the achievement, noting that the team could approach their final qualifier in Montenegro with confidence, aiming to claim three points while treating it as preparation for the tournament ahead.
Implications for qualification standings
With the win, Croatia now sits six points clear of second-placed Czech Republic heading into the final fixtures.
The Czech team has already secured a playoff berth, as the Faroe Islands, just one point behind them, have completed all their matches.
Even had the Faroes managed an upset against Croatia, their hopes of advancement would have depended on the Czech Republic failing to defeat Gibraltar on home soil.
Faroe Islands manager Eydun Klakstein expressed his support for Croatia, wishing them well at the World Cup and emphasizing solidarity among smaller footballing nations.
The result ensures Croatia will head into the summer tournament with momentum and optimism, having demonstrated resilience in turning a challenging match in their favor.