Croatia strengthened their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Slovenia at Stadion Varteks, securing a morale-boosting win before departing for the tournament in the United States.
The result provided a timely lift for Zlatko Dalić’s side, who recovered from recent setbacks to return to winning ways ahead of a demanding Group L campaign. Goals from captain Luka Modric and Mario Pašalić ensured Croatia finished their final home fixture on a positive note, despite Slovenia mounting a second-half response.
After a first half in which neither side managed to break the deadlock, Croatia took control shortly after the restart. Veteran midfielder Modric opened the scoring in the 51st minute, giving the home side the advantage and rewarding a patient performance.
The lead, however, did not last until the final whistle without challenge. Slovenia responded through Andraz Sporar, who drew his side level 32 minutes later and set up a tense finish to the contest.
With the match seemingly heading towards a draw, Croatia found a decisive breakthrough late in the game. Pašalić struck to restore the hosts’ lead, sealing a 2-1 victory and ensuring Dalić’s team completed their preparations with a winning result.
The triumph represents an important response from the European nation following consecutive defeats against Brazil and Belgium in their previous outings. Those results had interrupted Croatia’s momentum, but the success against Slovenia offered evidence that the squad is regaining confidence ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
Croatia were forced to show determination after surrendering their lead and demonstrated resilience by finding a late winner. The performance will provide encouragement for the coaching staff as they finalise plans for the World Cup.
Attention will now turn fully to the tournament itself, where Croatia face a challenging path in Group L. Dalić’s men are expected to arrive in the United States seeking a strong start against high-quality opposition.
Their World Cup journey will begin with a meeting against England on 17 June. Croatia will then face Panama on 23 June before concluding the group stage with a fixture against Ghana on 27 June.
The final group match against Ghana is expected to carry significant importance, with qualification to the next round potentially at stake. With several strong teams competing in the group, every point could prove crucial in determining which nations progress.
For Croatia, the victory over Slovenia serves as a valuable confidence boost at a critical stage of their preparations. The result not only ends a run of two consecutive defeats but also provides momentum as they prepare to leave home soil and focus on the challenge that awaits at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Having completed their final domestic assignment with a win, Croatia can now turn their attention to Group L, where encounters with England, Panama and Ghana will determine whether they can advance beyond the opening phase of the competition.
