Croatia v Ghana, 27 June 2026

Score2-1 to Croatia
RefereeDrew Fischer
CompetitionFIFA World Cup Group L
VenueLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia PA
Attendance68,324

View Croatia v Ghana head to head

Kick-off: 5.00pm local . FIFA World Ranking: Croatia 11th, Ghana 73rd . This was the first-ever meeting at ‘A’ international level.

2 Croatia

Manager: Zlatko Dalić

1 Ghana

Manager: Carlos Queiroz

Goals:

Petar Sučić 31 G
Nikola Vlašić 83 G

Goals:

Derrick Luckassen 73 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković
Defender Josip Stanišić
Defender Josip Sutalo
Defender/Midfielder Ivan Perišić
Defender/Midfielder Marin Pongračić
Midfielder Martin Baturina
Midfielder Mateo Kovačić
Midfielder Luka Modrić (captain)
Midfielder Petar Sučić
Midfielder Nikola Vlašić
Forward Ante Budimir

Starting lineup:

Benjamin Asare Goalkeeper
Jonas Adjetey Defender
Derrick Luckassen Defender
Marvin Senaya Defender
Gideon Mensah Defender/Midfielder
Thomas Partey Defender/Midfielder
Elisha Owusu Midfielder
Kwasi Sibo Midfielder
Kamaldeen Sulemana Midfielder/Forward
Jordan Ayew Forward (captain)
Antoine Semenyo Forward

Substitutions:

Igor Matanović for Ante Budimir 66
Mario Pašalić for Mateo Kovačić 78
Joško Gvardiol for Nikola Vlašić 88
Marco Pašalić for Martin Baturina 88

Substitutions:

Abdul Fatawu for Elisha Owusu 46
Kojo Peprah Oppong for Jonas Adjetey 46
Ernest Nuamah for Kamaldeen Sulemana 71
Brandon Thomas-Asante for Jordan Ayew 71
Caleb Yirenkyi for Kwasi Sibo 85

Cards:

Ivan Perišić 68 Y

Cards:

Kojo Peprah Oppong 90+4 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski
Goalkeeper Ivor Pandur
Defender Dulje Caleta-Car
Defender Martin Erlić
Defender Joško Gvardiol
Defender Luka Vušković
Defender/Midfielder Kristijan Jakić
Defender/Midfielder Marco Pašalić
Midfielder Nikola Moro
Midfielder Luka Sučić
Midfielder/Forward Toni Fruk
Midfielder/Forward Mario Pašalić
Forward Andrej Kramarić
Forward Igor Matanović
Forward Petar Musa

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Joseph Anang
Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zgi
Defender Abdul Mumin
Defender Jerome Opoku
Defender Kojo Peprah Oppong
Defender Baba Rahman
Defender/Midfielder Alidu Seidu
Midfielder Augustine Boakye
Midfielder Abdul Fatawu
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi
Midfielder/Forward Christopher Bonsus Baah
Midfielder/Forward Ernest Nuamah
Forward Prince Kwabena Adu
Forward Brandon Thomas-Asante
Forward Iñaki Williams

Comments:

Finishing as Group L runners-up, Croatia had now reached the knockout phase in each of their last three participations at FIFA World Cup tournaments. . They had now lost one of their last nine group games at FIFA World Cup finals (won six). . Croatia now remained unbeaten in their five games at FIFA World Cup tournaments against CAF (African) nations (won four).

Comments:

Finishing as one of the eight best third-placed nations (3rd), Ghana had now reached the knockout phase at a FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time since 2010 in South Africa. . The Black Stars had now lost five of their nine games at FIFA World Cup finals against UEFA nations (won two). . Derrick Luckassen's goal was the 200th of this FIFA World Cup tournament: the first time that this total had been reached in the competition’s history. . Derrick Luckassen's goal was initially disallowed for a foul but the decision was subsequently overturned following a VAR review.

2 Croatia

Manager: Zlatko Dalić

Goals:

Petar Sučić 31 G
Nikola Vlašić 83 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković
Defender Josip Stanišić
Defender Josip Sutalo
Defender/Midfielder Ivan Perišić
Defender/Midfielder Marin Pongračić
Midfielder Martin Baturina
Midfielder Mateo Kovačić
Midfielder Luka Modrić (captain)
Midfielder Petar Sučić
Midfielder Nikola Vlašić
Forward Ante Budimir

Substitutions:

Igor Matanović for Ante Budimir 66
Mario Pašalić for Mateo Kovačić 78
Joško Gvardiol for Nikola Vlašić 88
Marco Pašalić for Martin Baturina 88

Cards:

Ivan Perišić 68 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski
Goalkeeper Ivor Pandur
Defender Dulje Caleta-Car
Defender Martin Erlić
Defender Joško Gvardiol
Defender Luka Vušković
Defender/Midfielder Kristijan Jakić
Defender/Midfielder Marco Pašalić
Midfielder Nikola Moro
Midfielder Luka Sučić
Midfielder/Forward Toni Fruk
Midfielder/Forward Mario Pašalić
Forward Andrej Kramarić
Forward Igor Matanović
Forward Petar Musa

Comments:

Finishing as Group L runners-up, Croatia had now reached the knockout phase in each of their last three participations at FIFA World Cup tournaments. . They had now lost one of their last nine group games at FIFA World Cup finals (won six). . Croatia now remained unbeaten in their five games at FIFA World Cup tournaments against CAF (African) nations (won four).

1 Ghana

Manager: Carlos Queiroz

Goals:

Derrick Luckassen 73 G

Starting lineup:

Benjamin Asare Goalkeeper
Jonas Adjetey Defender
Derrick Luckassen Defender
Marvin Senaya Defender
Gideon Mensah Defender/Midfielder
Thomas Partey Defender/Midfielder
Elisha Owusu Midfielder
Kwasi Sibo Midfielder
Kamaldeen Sulemana Midfielder/Forward
Jordan Ayew Forward (captain)
Antoine Semenyo Forward

Substitutions:

Abdul Fatawu for Elisha Owusu 46
Kojo Peprah Oppong for Jonas Adjetey 46
Ernest Nuamah for Kamaldeen Sulemana 71
Brandon Thomas-Asante for Jordan Ayew 71
Caleb Yirenkyi for Kwasi Sibo 85

Cards:

Kojo Peprah Oppong 90+4 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Joseph Anang
Goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zgi
Defender Abdul Mumin
Defender Jerome Opoku
Defender Kojo Peprah Oppong
Defender Baba Rahman
Defender/Midfielder Alidu Seidu
Midfielder Augustine Boakye
Midfielder Abdul Fatawu
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi
Midfielder/Forward Christopher Bonsus Baah
Midfielder/Forward Ernest Nuamah
Forward Prince Kwabena Adu
Forward Brandon Thomas-Asante
Forward Iñaki Williams

Comments:

Finishing as one of the eight best third-placed nations (3rd), Ghana had now reached the knockout phase at a FIFA World Cup tournament for the first time since 2010 in South Africa. . The Black Stars had now lost five of their nine games at FIFA World Cup finals against UEFA nations (won two). . Derrick Luckassen's goal was the 200th of this FIFA World Cup tournament: the first time that this total had been reached in the competition’s history. . Derrick Luckassen's goal was initially disallowed for a foul but the decision was subsequently overturned following a VAR review.