Croatia booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a comeback win over the Faroe Islands, whose slim hopes of qualification are over.
2026 World Cup qualification Europe
3-1
Match Report
The minnows took the lead in Rijeka when Grimsby Town's Geza David Turi drove forward and had a shot deflected in.
But Josko Gvardiol drilled a Croatia leveller seven minutes later into the bottom corner.
Petar Musa then put Croatia ahead from eight yards out in his first international since 2023.
And Nikola Vlasic made the win safe from Ivan Perisic's cross.
Manchester City defender Gvardiol said: "Our goal was achieved with a game to spare in the qualifiers.
"We can proudly say we've qualified and we're looking forward to it.
"We'll travel to Montenegro for the final match in a relaxed manner, but with the intention of taking all three points, as every game is preparation for what awaits us in the summer."
Croatia are now six points above second-placed the Czech Republic going into Monday's final games.
The Czechs are guaranteed a play-off spot now, as the Faroe Islands - one point behind them - have finished their matches.
Even if the Faroes had beaten Croatia, they would have been relying on the Czechs not to beat Gibraltar at home.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
16' GOAL! Croatia 0-1 Faroe Islands (Géza Turi)
23' GOAL! Croatia 1-1 Faroe Islands (Josko Gvardiol)
57' GOAL! Croatia 2-1 Faroe Islands (Petar Musa)
70' GOAL! Croatia 3-1 Faroe Islands (Nikola Vlašić)
Line-ups
Croatia XI: Modric, Perisic, Kramaric, D. Livaković, Pasalic, Petar Musa, Stanisic, Gvardiol, Marco Pašalić, Petar Sučić, Luka Vuskovic
Subs: Mislav Orsic, Ivica Ivusic, Caleta-Car, Vlasic, Nikola Moro, Kristijan Jakic, Marin Pongracic, Ivor Pandur, Josip Sutalo, Toni Fruk, Igor Matanovic, Franjo Ivanović
Faroe Islands XI: Odmar Færø, Viljormur Davidsen, Árni Frederiksberg, René Joensen, Meinhard Olsen, Gunnar Vatnhamar, Jákup Andreasen, Mattias Lamhauge, Hanus Sørensen, Andrias Edmundsson, Géza Turi
Subs: Jóan Símun Edmundsson, Páll Klettskard, Petur Knudsen, Adrian Justinussen, Bárdur á Reynatröd, Jann Benjaminsen, Arnbjørn Svensson, Bjarti Mørk, Ási Dam, Martin Agnarsson, Jóannes Bjartalid, Gullbrandur Øregaard