Croatia 2-1 Ghana
Croatia beat Ghana 2-1 in Philadelphia to grab 2nd in Group L, and Ghana go through too as one of the best 3rd-place teams.
How the match went
This was billed as the game that would decide 2nd place in Group L, and it lived up to it.
Croatia needed a win to be sure of going through, and they started strong.
Their midfielder Petar Sucic put them ahead in the 31st minute to make it 1-0 at the break.
Ghana had not let in a single goal all tournament, so falling behind was new ground for them.
But they did not fold, and Derrick Luckassen scored to make it 1-1 in the 73rd minute.
For a few minutes it looked like Ghana might take the points they wanted.
Then Croatia's Nikola Vlasic struck in the 83rd minute to make it 2-1 and win the game.
Here is the twist, though, because Ghana still go through as one of the 8 best 3rd-place teams, so both sides reach the round of 32.
Key moments
- ⚽ 31' P. Sučić (Croatia)
- ⚽ 73' Luckassen (Ghana)
- ⚽ 83' Vlašić (Croatia)
Goals in the order they were scored.
Match highlights
Watch on YouTube- Date
- Saturday, June 27
- Kickoff Time
- 17:00 (New York time)
- Stage
- Group stage, Group L
- Attendance
- 68,324
- Referee
- Drew Fischer (Canada)
What's next for Croatia?
Croatia finish 2nd in Group L and are through to the round of 32.
After a shaky start to the tournament, getting the win they needed is a big relief.
With the experience in this squad, they will believe they can make another deep run.
What's next for Ghana?
Ghana finish 3rd in Group L but still go through as one of the 8 best 3rd-place teams.
They defended brilliantly for most of the tournament, and that earned them the points to sneak in.
So the adventure goes on, and Ghana are into the round of 32.
Common questions
Where and when was Croatia vs Ghana played?
The game was played on June 27, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It was the final Group L match for both teams at the 2026 World Cup.
What was the final score of Croatia vs Ghana?
Croatia won 2-1. It was 1-0 to Croatia at half-time, then both teams scored in the second half.
Who scored in Croatia vs Ghana?
Petar Sucic scored for Croatia in the 31st minute and Nikola Vlasic got the winner in the 83rd. Derrick Luckassen scored Ghana's goal in the 73rd minute.
Did Ghana go out after losing to Croatia?
No, Ghana still went through. They finished 3rd in Group L but qualified as one of the 8 best 3rd-place teams, so both Croatia and Ghana reached the round of 32.
What happens to Croatia and Ghana next?
Croatia finished 2nd in Group L and go through to the round of 32. Ghana go through too as one of the best 3rd-place teams.