Croatia clinched Round 32 victory 2-1 Ghana
PHILADELPHIA (June 27, 2026) — Croatia clinched their spot in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium on Saturday evening. The high-stakes final matchday of Group L delivered a masterclass in tactical adjustments and late-game drama before a sellout crowd of 68,324.
Croatia dictated the tempo early on with their signature midfield possession. Playmaker Luka Modrić dictating the pace alongside Mateo Kovačić. The breakthrough came in the 31st minute when midfielder Petar Sučić found a pocket of space. He unleashed a powerful, curling strike from outside the area that beat Ghanaian goalkeeper Benjamin Asare at the far post.
Ghana responded aggressively after the halftime interval, introducing structural shifts that caught the Croatian backline off guard. Their persistence paid off in the 73rd minute when Derrick Luckassen bundled home a set-piece delivery. The equalizer triggered a prolonged four-minute VAR review for potential offside. Officials eventually validated the goal to set up a tense finale.
The deadlock did not last long as the Vatreni relied on veteran leadership. In the 83rd minute, Croatian captain Luka Modrić delivered a precise, swinging corner kick into the heart of the penalty box. Substitute Nikola Vlašić met the ball cleanly, heading it past Ghana’s goalkeeper to secure the win.
With this result, Croatia finished second in Group L with six points and will face Colombia in Toronto on July 2. Despite the defeat, Ghana also advances to the knockout stage as one of the best third-place teams with three points and is slated to play Portugal.
