Croatia’s 7-Goal Statement—What Gibraltar Couldn’t Stop in World Cup Qualifying

Croatia’s national football team opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 7-0 victory over Gibraltar on June, 2025, at the Estádio Algarve in Faro, Portugal. The match, played at a neutral venue due to Gibraltar’s stadium not meeting FIFA standards, saw Croatia rotate their squad, resting key players like Luka Modrić, Joško Gvardiol, and Andrej Kramarić.

Despite the changes, Croatia dominated from the outset. Mario Pašalić opened the scoring in the 28th minute, followed quickly by a deflected effort credited to Ante Budimir. Substitute Franjo Ivanović struck twice, while Ivan Perišić—who captained the side—added a deserved goal of his own. Kramarić, coming off the bench, finished the rout with two late strikes.

The 7-0 result matches Croatia’s record for their largest win, equaling their 2008 performance against Andorra. The victory sets the tone for Croatia’s qualifying campaign, as they prepare for a tougher test against Czechia in their next fixture.