The World Cup 2026 European Qualification will be on in October as Czechia taking on Croatia in Group L.
Czechia vs Croatia: World Cup 2026 European Qualification details as we bring you the match preview with what you need to know for the coming encounter.
Who will be the next in line to join the qualified teams at the biggest football stages next year?
Check here for the latest World Cup 2026 updates
More on World Cup 2026 Qualification:
Czechia vs Croatia: World Cup 2026 European Qualification
- 10 Oct — Qualifying round: Matchday 7
- Stadium: Fortuna Arena, Prague
- Group L — UEFA Qualifiers
The margins at the top of Group L are wafer-thin, and Matchday 7 brings a genuine qualifier’s six-pointer to Prague. League-leading Croatia arrive with momentum and muscle memory from tournament football; second-placed Czechia counters with home backing and a compact shape that has served them well so far. Expect a fast start, a fierce middle third, and a result that will echo through the run-in.
Form guide
- Czechia: W W L W D — solid base, stingy in most phases, but still searching for a signature win over an elite side in this cycle.
- Croatia: L W W W W — after an early wobble, they look like themselves again: measured tempo, hardened midfield core, and decisive in the boxes.
Head-to-head
Czechia have never beaten Croatia in the last five meetings; Croatia have won two with three draws in between. Those games produced 20 goals combined (Czechia 7, Croatia 13)—a rivalry that often bursts into life after half-time.
Current standings
Croatia sit 1st and Czechia 2nd in Group L going into this round, raising the stakes for both the automatic spot and the safety net of second place. For Zlatko Dalić’s side, three points in Prague would tighten their grip on the top spot; for Ivan Hašek’s team, a victory would flip the narrative and ease the table pressure.
Last World Cup
Croatia remains one of FIFA’s top tournament performers, finishing third at Qatar 2022, blending poise and nous, and scoring eight goals across the campaign (notably in the 4–1 win over Canada and the 2–1 victory in the third-place play-off). Czechia did not qualify for the 2022 Finals; their last appearance was Germany 2006, which underlines the significance of this cycle for a generation keen to restore the nation to the global stage.
Prediction
Czechia 0–2 Croatia — the visitors’ control of the middle third, plus sharper end-product, to tell. One to settle it before the hour, another late as Czechia chase.
What’s next
- Czechia: a quick turnaround to Faroe Islands v Czechia on 12 Oct (MD8).
- Croatia: back home for Croatia v Gibraltar on 12 Oct (MD8)
