Croatia - Slovenia live - Football

Croatia host Slovenia in an international friendly on 7 June 2026 at Gradski stadion Varaždin - a Balkan derby between a World Cup-bound nation and a side that narrowly missed out on qualification.

Match Info: Croatia vs Slovenia

Croatia vs Slovenia kicks off on Sunday, 7 June 2026, at 19:45 BST at Gradski stadion Varaždin in Varaždin, Croatia. The match is an international friendly, serving as a final pre-tournament tune-up for the Croatian national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

Where to Watch Croatia vs Slovenia?

Viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland can watch Croatia vs Slovenia live on Amazon Prime Video, which holds rights to the fixture for both countries. The match is available via streaming on the platform, accessible on all major devices.

Across Europe, DAZN covers the match in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, while DAZN Belgium serves Belgian viewers. In Italy, the game is broadcast on Sky Sport Calcio, with streaming available through Sky Go Italia and NOW TV. Croatian fans can watch at home on Nova TV, and Slovenian supporters can follow on Sportklub 1.

In the United States, the match is shown on Fox Sports 2, with online options including Foxsports.com, Fubo TV and VIX. Across Latin America, Disney+ carries the match in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru and several other countries. UEFA TV provides global free coverage worldwide.

Croatia vs Slovenia - Match Preview

This Balkan friendly carries more weight than most: Croatia arrive as confirmed Group D participants at the 2026 World Cup, while Slovenia's campaign ended in November 2025 after a 0:2 defeat to Kosovo sealed their absence from the tournament.

Croatia head into this fixture off the back of a 0:2 home loss to Belgium on 2 June 2026, their second defeat in the last five matches following a 1:3 reverse against Brazil in March. Zlatko Dalić's side have shown offensive quality - a 2:1 win over Colombia and a 3:2 victory against Montenegro demonstrate their ability to compete - but defensive solidity has proved elusive against stronger opposition. The Varaždin fixture gives Dalić a controlled environment to fine-tune combinations before the tournament opener.

Slovenia, managed by Matjaž Kek, enter with a different motivation. Failing to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2010, they collected just 1 win, 2 draws and 2 defeats in their last 5 matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 6. Yet the squad is not without talent: goalkeeper Jan Oblak remains among the world's elite between the posts, and striker Benjamin Šeško at Manchester United represents one of Europe's most exciting forwards. A friendly against Croatia offers a chance to test new combinations and rebuild confidence ahead of the next qualifying cycle.

Head-to-Head: Croatia vs Slovenia

In their 3 most recent meetings, Croatia won 2 and drew 1, never losing to their eastern neighbour. The 5:2 aggregate goal tally favours the hosts clearly, though Slovenia's 1:0 win in Ljubljana in 2021 proves the gap between these sides is not insurmountable.

Here are the last 3 head-to-head results between Croatia and Slovenia:

• 26 March 2022 - Friendly - Croatia 1:1 Slovenia
• 7 September 2021 - Friendly - Croatia 3:0 Slovenia
• 24 March 2021 - Friendly - Slovenia 1:0 Croatia

Croatia - Recent Form

Croatia won 3 and lost 2 of their last 5 matches, scoring 9 goals and conceding 8 - a productive but inconsistent record for a side preparing for a World Cup campaign.

The two defeats underline Croatia's vulnerability: a 1:3 loss to Brazil in March 2026 and a 0:2 home defeat to Belgium on 2 June exposed weaknesses at the back against high-quality opponents. However, the wins paint a more encouraging picture - a 2:1 victory over Colombia away from home in March 2026, a 3:2 triumph in Montenegro in November 2025, and a 3:1 win over the Faroe Islands that same month demonstrate a consistent eye for goal.

At 40 years old, Luka Modrić continues to orchestrate from midfield alongside Mateo Kovačić and Luka Sučić, giving Croatia one of the most technically gifted central midfield units at the World Cup. The key question for Dalić is whether the defensive line - led by Joško Gvardiol - can provide greater stability in the tournament itself.

Slovenia - Recent Form

Slovenia recorded 1 win, 2 draws and 2 losses in their last 5 matches, scoring 4 goals and conceding 6 - a record that reflects the inconsistency that ultimately cost them a place at the World Cup.

The defining moment of their recent campaign was a 0:2 home defeat to Kosovo in November 2025 in front of a sold-out crowd in Ljubljana - a result that officially ended Slovenia's qualification hopes. Before that, a 0:0 draw with Switzerland and a 1:1 stalemate in Sweden showed a side capable of competing without consistently converting pressure into goals. The one bright result was a 3:2 away win in Montenegro in March 2026.

Benjamin Šeško, who joined Manchester United as one of the most coveted strikers in European football, carries enormous expectation as Slovenia's central attacking threat. Jan Oblak's commanding presence in goal remains a major asset. Kek will use this Varaždin friendly to experiment with his squad and identify the building blocks of a new qualifying push.

Facts and Statistics

Here are 5 key facts about the Croatia vs Slovenia rivalry ahead of the June 2026 friendly:

• Croatia won 2 and drew 1 of their last 3 meetings with Slovenia, with a combined score of 5:2 in their favour.
• Slovenia's only win in recent H2H history came at home in Ljubljana in March 2021 - a 1:0 victory.
• Croatia scored 9 goals in their last 5 matches; Slovenia scored just 4 in the same period.
• Croatia qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of 16 European representatives; Slovenia failed to qualify for the first time since 2010.
• Benjamin Šeško (Slovenia) and Luka Modrić (Croatia) are the highest-profile players on the pitch - one approaching the peak of his powers, the other a legendary 40-year-old playmaker.