Match Preview - Faroe Islands vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying Match

The Faroe Islands vs Croatia at the picturesque Tórsvøllur stadium in what promises to be a fascinating clash between David and Goliath in a UEFA qualifying Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This historic encounter marks the first-ever meeting between these two nations, adding an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling fixture.

The Faroe Islands currently sit fourth in Group L with 3 points from 3 matches, having managed just one victory – a crucial 2-1 home win over Gibraltar in June. The hosts have struggled in their qualifying campaign, suffering defeats to Montenegro (1-0) and the Czech Republic (2-1), but will be buoyed by their recent home success.

Croatia, ranked 10th in FIFA’s world rankings, is in scintillating form compared to the Faroe Islands’ 141st position. The visitors sit second in the group with the maximum points from their two games played, having demolished Gibraltar 7-0 away and thrashed the group leaders, the Czech Republic, 5-1. With a remarkable goal difference of +11 from just two matches, Croatia has announced its intentions loud and clear.

Faroe Islands vs Croatia – FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying

This historic first meeting between the nations promises to be a David vs Goliath encounter, with Croatia heavily favored to maintain their perfect start to 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. However, in football, particularly at the international level, surprises can and do happen – and the passionate Faroese supporters will be hoping their team can create one of the biggest upsets in World Cup qualifying history.

2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifier - Faroe Islands vs Croatia

Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
Time: 18:45 UTC (14:45 EST)
Venue: Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification – UEFA Group L

Head to Head

This fixture represents uncharted territory as the Faroe Islands vs Croatia have never faced each other in competitive or friendly matches. The absence of historical precedent makes this encounter all the more intriguing, as both teams step into the unknown against unfamiliar opposition.

Played	Faroe Wins	Croatia Wins	Draws	Goals Faroe	Goals Croatia	First Meeting
0	0	0	0	0	0	Yes

Faroe Islands Last 5 Matches

Date	Opponent	Result	Competition
Jun 9, 2025	Gibraltar	W 2-1	WC Qual
Jun 5, 2025	Georgia	L 0-1	Friendly
Mar 25, 2025	Montenegro	L 0-1	WC Qual
Mar 22, 2025	Czech Republic	L 1-2	WC Qual
Nov 17, 2024	North Macedonia	L 0-1	Nations League

Croatia Last 5 Matches

Date	Opponent	Result	Competition
Jun 9, 2025	Czech Republic	W 5-1	WC Qual
Jun 6, 2025	Gibraltar	W 7-0	WC Qual
Mar 23, 2025	France	L 2-4 (pens)	Nations League
Mar 20, 2025	France	W 2-0	Nations League
Nov 18, 2024	Portugal	D 1-1	Nations League

Team News

Faroe Islands manager Eyðun Klakstein will likely stick with a similar lineup to the one that secured their vital victory over Gibraltar. The hosts have no major injury concerns and will be hoping that home advantage at the intimate 6,040-capacity Tórsvøllur can help level the playing field.

Key players to watch include Patrik Johannesen, who scored the winning goal against Gibraltar, and Árni Frederiksberg, who also found the net in that crucial victory. The Faroese will need their experienced defenders, like Gunnar Vatnhamar, to be at their absolute best to contain Croatia’s potent attack.

Croatia will be without several key players due to injuries. Josko Gvardiol, Josip Juranovic, and Josip Stanisic are all sidelined. However, coach Zlatko Dalić still has a wealth of talent at his disposal, led by the ageless Luka Modrić in midfield.

Current Possible Starting Lineup of the Faroe Islands vs Croatia

Faroe Islands Predection XI (3-4-3):

Reynatröð; Færø, Vatnhamar, Edmundsson; Danielsen, Benjaminsen, Olsen, Davidsen; Frederiksberg, Johannesen, Justinussen

Croatia Predection XI (4-2-3-1):

Livaković; Smolčić, Pongračić, Ćaleta-Car, Sosa; Modrić, Sučić; Pašalić, Kramarić, Perišić; Budimir

Match Prediction

While the Faroe Islands will have the backing of their passionate home support, the quality gap between the two sides is substantial. Croatia are overwhelming favorites with their superior individual quality, tactical sophistication, and recent form. The visitors have scored 12 goals in just two qualifying matches while conceding only one.

Andrej Kramarić leads Croatia’s goal-scoring charts in Group L with 4 goals and will be the main threat alongside Ante Budimir. Croatia’s experience on the big stage – including their recent World Cup bronze medal and Nations League final appearance – should prove decisive.

Predicted Result:

Croatia is expected to secure a comfortable victory while maintaining their perfect qualifying record. The visitors’ clinical finishing and defensive solidity make them strong candidates to win to nil.