The Croatia national football team traveled to Prague for a pivotal FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier. The departure from Franjo Tuđman Airport in Zagreb took place on October 8, 2025, with the match against Czechia scheduled for the following day.
The departure was reported by www.reutersconnect.com. Photographer Emica Elvedji captured former goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa at the airport. The image was distributed by PIXSELL/Sipa USA via the Reuters Connect platform, with dimensions of 4000 x 2667 pixels. The material is available to professional media customers, and Reuters Connect includes a disclaimer that it has not verified or endorsed the content.
What is the current qualifying standing?
The Prague match was part of the 7th round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. As of August 2026, Croatia sits in 2nd place in their qualifying group. They have 6 points from 3 games, with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss. Their goal difference is even, having scored 5 and conceded 5. You can track all the movements on our standings page.
Croatia's last result was a 2-1 loss to Portugal on July 2, 2026. Their recent form over the last five matches shows 3 wins and 2 losses. That sequence is LLWWW, meaning they have lost their last two games. They trail group leaders England by just a single point.
Why was the trip to Prague significant?
The journey to the Czech Republic was key for preparing to face a direct rival in the qualification battle. Travel was organized the day before the match to allow sufficient time for acclimatization and final training sessions. The airport photograph captured the pre-travel atmosphere for media coverage purposes. The asset's USN identifier is MT1SIPA000RO329Q.
Stipe Pletikosa, pictured at the airport, is now part of the national team's coaching staff. His presence symbolizes continuity and experience within the Croatian football federation. The objective of the trip was clear: secure points away from home and strengthen their group position.
What comes next after this journey?
Following that October 2025 fixture, the regular qualifying cycle continued. Croatia's next official fixture is the return match against Czechia, again away, scheduled for September 26, 2026. This will be an opportunity to correct the poorer form shown in the most recent matches. The full schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
The team will need to address the fact they have suffered defeats in their last two outings. However, with the top of the table so close, every point is of great importance. Preparations for that match are already underway, with coaches analyzing the opponent's strengths and weaknesses. The team squad can be viewed on our squad page.
The departure from Zagreb in October 2025 was just one step on the long road to the World Cup. Although several months have passed since then, the fight for qualification remains very much alive. Croatia has a realistic chance of direct qualification, but will require consistent results in the remaining matches.
