Croatia’s Route to the 2026 World Cup Final
If Croatia win Group L, their knockout route runs from a Round of 32 tie in Atlanta on Wed, 1 July 2026, through the Round of 16 in Mexico City (Mon, 6 July 2026), and on toward the Final at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey on Sun, 19 July 2026.
Croatia’s projected knockout route
| Round | Date | Host city | Likely opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Wed, 1 July 2026 | Atlanta | a third-placed team (from Group E, Group H, Group I, Group J or Group K) |
| Round of 16 | Mon, 6 July 2026 | Mexico City | the winner of Match 79 (the Group A winner vs a third-placed team (from Group C, Group E, Group F, Group H or Group I)) |
| Quarter-final | Sat, 11 July 2026 | Miami | Potentially Brazil, Morocco or Netherlands |
| Semi-final | Wed, 15 July 2026 | Atlanta | Potentially Argentina, Spain or Uruguay |
| Final | Sun, 19 July 2026 | New York / New Jersey | Potentially Germany, Ivory Coast or Mexico |
Route assumes Croatia win Group L. Confirmed opponents are named once their group finishes; the rest stay bracket projections until then.
Who could Croatia face in the Round of 32?
In the Round of 32, Croatia would meet a third-placed team (from Group E, Group H, Group I, Group J or Group K). The tie is scheduled for Wed, 1 July 2026, 12:00 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (Match 80). Win it and Croatia reach the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
What is Croatia’s Round of 16 path?
A Round-of-16 place would pit Croatia against the winner of Match 79 (the Group A winner vs a third-placed team (from Group C, Group E, Group F, Group H or Group I)), played Mon, 6 July 2026, 8:00 PM ET at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (Match 92). Likely contenders from that side include Mexico, South Korea, Brazil or Morocco.
Croatia’s potential quarter-final
Reaching the quarter-finals would set up Match 99 on Sat, 11 July 2026, 5:00 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, against the winner of Round-of-16 Match 91. Heavyweights lurking in that quarter include Brazil, Morocco, Netherlands or Japan.
Could Croatia reach the semi-finals?
The semi-final (Match 102) is set for Wed, 15 July 2026, 3:00 PM ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Possible opponents from the other half include Argentina, Spain, Uruguay, United States or Belgium.
Croatia’s route to the World Cup 2026 Final
The 2026 World Cup Final is at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey on Sun, 19 July 2026 (3:00 PM ET). It is the last step of Croatia’s projected route. Anyone from Germany, Ivory Coast, Mexico, South Korea, Switzerland or Brazil could be waiting on the other side of the draw.
What if Croatia finish runner-up in Group L?
As Group L runner-up, Croatia would enter the other half of the bracket, opening with a Round of 32 tie against the Group K runner-up in Toronto on Thu, 2 July 2026 (Match 83). The path still converges on the same Final at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey on Sun, 19 July 2026.
| Round | Date | Host city | Likely opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Thu, 2 July 2026 | Toronto | the Group K runner-up |
| Round of 16 | Mon, 6 July 2026 | Dallas | the winner of Match 84 (the Group H winner vs the Group J runner-up) |
| Quarter-final | Fri, 10 July 2026 | Los Angeles | Potentially United States, Switzerland or Germany |
| Semi-final | Tue, 14 July 2026 | Dallas | Potentially Germany, Ivory Coast or Mexico |
| Final | Sun, 19 July 2026 | New York / New Jersey | Potentially Brazil, Morocco or Netherlands |
Route assumes Croatia finish second in Group L. Confirmed opponents are named once their group finishes; the rest stay bracket projections until then.
Croatia’s Group L fixtures
| Date | Kick-off | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, 17 June 2026 | 4:00 PM ET | Croatia at  England |
AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| Tue, 23 June 2026 | 7:00 PM ET | Croatia at  Panama |
BMO Field, Toronto |
| Sat, 27 June 2026 | 5:00 PM ET | Croatia vs  Ghana |
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
Croatia at the World Cup 2026: FAQ
When do Croatia play their first 2026 World Cup match?
Croatia open their Group L campaign against England on Wed, 17 June 2026 (4:00 PM ET) at AT&T Stadium, Dallas.
Where would Croatia play the Round of 16?
If Croatia win Group L, their Round of 16 tie (Match 92) is at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City on Mon, 6 July 2026.
What if Croatia finish runner-up in Group L?
As Group L runner-up, Croatia would drop into the other half of the bracket. Their Round of 32 tie (Match 83) is against the Group K runner-up in Toronto on Thu, 2 July 2026, then the path runs through the Round of 16 in Dallas and on toward the same Final at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey on Sun, 19 July 2026.
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The 2026 World Cup Final is at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey on Sun, 19 July 2026 (3:00 PM ET).