Croatia vs Belgium LIVE: Game is underway! International friendly before 2026 World Cup
Croatia and Belgium meet in a key international friendly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as both nations continue their final preparations. Follow the minute-by-minute action live.
Croatia and Belgium meet this Tuesday at Stadion HNK Rijeka in one of their final international friendlies before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both national teams will use the matchup as an important opportunity to fine-tune their squads and build momentum ahead of the tournament.
The Croatian national team enters the contest looking to maintain the competitive standard that has made it one of the most consistent sides in international soccer over the past decade. Meanwhile, Belgium continue their preparations after a 1-1 draw against Mexico in March and will conclude their World Cup warm-up schedule with another friendly against Tunisia on June 6.
This matchup brings together two of Europe’s most talented national teams, each aiming to arrive at the World Cup in peak form. Croatia will rely on their experience and tournament pedigree, while Belgium hope their emerging generation can restore the team to contention on the sport’s biggest stage.
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15' – Croatia move the ball with patience
Croatia circulate possession calmly, with Modric and Kovacic constantly dropping in to offer passing lanes for the center‑backs and keep the buildup steady.
13' – Croatia press high again
Croatia’s pressure pays off once more, making it difficult for Belgium to build cleanly from the back and forcing rushed passes in their own half.
10' – Ngoy steps in again
Ngoy reads the play perfectly and intercepts Gvardiol’s pass, cutting off Croatia’s attacking move and turning possession back Belgium’s way.
11' – Modric sparks Croatia’s best move
Modric carries the ball all the way from his own half with no pressure, gliding forward before slipping it to Musa, whose first‑time strike is poor and sails wide.
7' – First warning from Belgium
Doku cuts inside and tries his luck from the edge of the box, but Livaković holds it comfortably for Croatia.
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6' – Courtois forced to clear under pressure
Courtois is immediately closed down as the ball reaches him, leaving the goalkeeper with no choice but to clear it first‑time to avoid trouble.
4' – Belgium with a long spell of possession
Belgium enjoy an extended stretch on the ball, but they’re still struggling to break through Croatia’s compact defensive shape.
2' – Belgium play out from the back
Belgium look to build from deep, but Croatia push up with very aggressive pressure, forcing the visitors to move the ball quickly.
1' – Croatia take early initiative
Croatia control the first meaningful possession of the match, working a long passing sequence before Ngoy steps in to break it up.
0' – GAME ON! (0-0)
The international friendly between Croatia and Belgium is underway at Stadion HNK Rijeka.
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Players on the pitch!
Both teams are lined up for the pre‑match protocol at Stadion HNK Rijeka. The atmosphere is building as Croatia and Belgium prepare for kickoff.
Friendlies | Belgium and Croatia
Belgium will play two international friendlies before making their 2026 World Cup debut:
June 2 (today) vs Croatia
June 6 vs Tunisia
Croatia will also play two international friendlies ahead of their 2026 World Cup opener:
June 2 (today) vs Belgium
June 7 vs Slovenia
World Cup 2026 Groups
Belgium: The Belgian national team is placed in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand.
Croatia: The Croatian national team is placed in Group L together with Ghana, England, and Panama.
Both teams are warming up on the field
Players from both sides are out on the pitch at Stadion HNK Rijeka going through their warm‑up routines as we get closer to kickoff.
Today’s referees
The match will be officiated by Rade Obrenovič, appointed to lead the crew for this international friendly at Stadion HNK Rijeka.
Today’s action takes place at Stadion HNK Rijeka in Croatia. With a modern design and an intimate atmosphere overlooking the Adriatic coast, it offers a strong home setting for Croatia as both teams continue their preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Belgium Lineup Confirmed
Belgium’s starting XI: Thibaut Courtois; Maxim de Cuyper, Arthur Theate, Nathan Ngoy; Alexis Saelemaekers, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin; Kevin De Bruyne (C), Jeremy Doku, Charles De Ketelaere.
Croatia’s starting XI: Dominik Livaković; Josip Stanišić, Josko Gvardiol, Luka Vušković, Josip Šutalo; Luka Modrić (C), Mateo Kovačić, Petar Sucic, Martin Baturina; Ivan Perišić, Petar Musa.
The match between Croatia and Belgium is scheduled to start at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Stadion HNK Rijeka in Croatia.
In the United States, the game will be available via live streaming on Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Fubo, and ViX.
Croatia vs Belgium clash in an international friendly
Welcome to our live blog! This time, Croatia host Belgium in an international friendly as both teams continue their preparations ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Stay with us for all the action and minute‑by‑minute updates of this matchup at Stadion HNK Rijeka.
Alexander Rosquez is a bilingual sports writer, fluent in English and Spanish, who joined Bolavip in June 2024. Bringing over 15 years of media experience, Alexander has covered a wide range of sports events, including soccer, MLB, and NHL. His expertise lies in real-time coverage of competitions across various globally relevant sports leagues. Before joining Bolavip, he gained extensive experience in MLB and soccer coverage for both national and international media outlets. His discipline in sports event coverage and meticulous attention to detail make him a valuable asset to the Bolavip team.
