Does Luka Modrić play today? where to watch Croatia vs Faroe Islands in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

The Croatian national team hosts the Faroe Islands this Friday, November 14, 2025, in the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers. The game takes place at the HNK Rijeka Stadium, in Rijeka, Croatia, with the ball rolling at 2:45 pm Brasília time, equivalent to 7:45 pm local time. The match is part of the ninth round of Group L, and Croatia, leader with 16 points, is looking for a draw to seal a direct place in the World Cup.

Zlatko Dalić, Croatian coach, confirmed the lineup with Luka Modrić as a starter in midfield, marking his 193rd appearance for the national team. The Faroe Islands, under the command of Eidun Klakstein and with 12 points in third place, are aiming for victory to maintain their chances of playoffs.

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The clash is the second between the teams this campaign, after the Croatian 1-0 in the first leg, played in September.

Roster confirmed with Modrić

Modrić’s confirmation came after intense training, replacing the injured Mateo Kovačić. Dalić highlighted the veteran’s leadership in controlling the pace of the game.

• Main absences: Kovačić (muscle injury) and Ante Budimir (probphysical motto).
• Reinforcements: Stanišić and Vušković return to defense after recovery.
• Highlight: Kramarić, with six goals in the Qualifiers, forms an offensive duo.

The scheme prioritizes quick transitions, exploiting Modrić’s vision of the game.

Croatia’s recent performance

Croatia has gone six games unbeaten in the Qualifiers, with five wins and one draw. In October, they scored 3-0 against Gibraltar, with goals from Lovro Majer, Petar Musa and Marko Livaja.

At the HNK Rijeka Stadium, the team boasts ten matches without defeat, including successes over France and Poland. The defense, with only one goal conceded in eight games, maintains an average of 2.5 goals scored per duel.

The 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic revealed positional control, but Dalić demands more precision in attack. The 4-0 victory over Montenegro reinforced collective solidity.

Faroe Islands and their surprising campaign

The Faroe Islands have recorded four victories in seven matches, surpassing previous editions of the Qualifiers. The 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in October featured a late goal from Martin Agnarsson.

In away games, the team beat Gibraltar 1-0 in September, ending a negative streak. The defense, with Viljormur Davidsen as a pillar, has limited goals in the last five matches.

Klakstein emphasizes counterattacks, with Árni Frederiksberg at the centeraction. Joan Simun Edmundsson, scorer of two goals, is the offensive focus.

The team averaged 1.4 goals per match recently, showing tactical evolution.

Meinhard Olsen forms part of the attacking trio with Frederiksberg. Without casualties, Klakstein repeats the basis of the 4-0 defeat over Montenegro.

The preparation included Patrik Johannesen, who scored against Gibraltar. The focus lies on compaction, avoiding spaces for Modrić.

History between selections

The only official clash took place in September 2025, with a 1-0 Croatian victory in the Faroe Islands. Kramarić scored in the 62nd minute with a precise header.

The match became even in the second half, with local pressure contained by the Croatian defense. Dalić credited patience for the achievement.

The absence of previous friendlies reinforces Croatia’s statistical dominance, which had 68% possession in the duel.

Where to watch live

ESPN broadcasts the game in Brazil from 2:30 pm, with narration in Portuguese and tactical preview. Disney+ offers streaming for subscribers, with replay options and summaries.

Globoplay can make it available on pay-per-view via partner operators. Tickets for the stadium, with 10,000 seats, sold out in hours, priced between 20 and 100 euros.

Coverage includes post-game analysis across channels.

Pregame vision and conditions

Experts see Croatia as favorites, with odds of 1.15 for a home win. Estimated score is 2-0, valuing the defense and Modrić.

The Faroe Islands are betting on speed, but Croatian maturity tends to decide. A draw is enough for the hosts to qualify.

In Rijeka, the temperature is 8°C with cloudy skies, with no rain forecast, favoring technical football.

Last five results for each team

Croatia maintains consistency:

• 3-0 Gibraltar (October 2025)
• 0-0 Czech Republic (October 2025)
• 4-0 Montenegro (September 2025)
• 1-0 Faroe Islands (September 2025)
• 5-1 Czech Republic (June 2025)

Faroe Islands advances:

• 2-1 Czech Republic (October 2025)
• 4-0 Montenegro (October 2025)
• 1-0 Gibraltar (September 2025)
• 0-1 Croatia (September 2025)
• 3-1 Gibraltar (June 2025)

These numbers illustrate Croatian strength and Faroese progress.