Croatia stunned World Cup champions Spain in the opening stages of their UEFA Nations League Group A3 clash at Stadion Poljud in Split on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, with Ivan Perišić heading the hosts into a 1-0 lead inside the first 20 minutes. The goal, which still stood as play continued, threatened to halt Spain's long unbeaten run and gave Luka Modrić's side their first moment of relief after the heaviest defeat in the nation's history.
Perišić Breaks the Deadlock
Ivan Perišić rose inside the box and sent a well-placed header into the bottom-left corner, with Croatia striking first and moving in front against Spain in the 17th minute. Moments later, Perišić was shown a yellow card for a foul on Marc Pubill, but the lead held as the match progressed past the 20-minute mark.
The goal arrived just three days after a catastrophic result for Croatia. The 7-0 loss on home soil was described as the worst defeat the Croatian national team had suffered in modern history, and coach Slaven Bilic's side arrived in Split desperate to show signs of recovery against the toughest possible opponent.
Modrić Leads the Fightback at 41
At the heart of Croatia's resistance was captain Luka Modrić. His return to action with Croatia against an unbeaten Spain side carried special significance, as he entered one of the final chapters of his historic international career after 20 years representing the national team. Croatia's veteran midfield anchor had come off before the hour mark in the loss to England but was retained in the starting lineup for the visit of the Nations League leaders.
Spain's Perfect Record Put to the Test
Spain had arrived in Split on the back of a remarkable run of form. The world champions were unbeaten in 41 consecutive matches in all competitions, and had made a flawless start to this Nations League campaign. Spain arrived as the group's unbeaten leader with nine points from nine possible, having defeated England, Croatia and the Czech Republic in their first three outings.
Group A3 Standings Before Kickoff
Entering matchday four, Spain sat clear at the top of the group with a maximum nine points from three wins, while Croatia occupied third place with three points after one win and two defeats, including the lopsided loss to England. A result in Split carried real weight for both sides as they approached the end of this international window, with Spain in position to move closer to the knockout rounds covered elsewhere in this Nations League matchday.
The Teams' Recent History
The sides had already met once in this campaign. Spain secured a 4-1 home victory over Croatia at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville when the sides met a week earlier, with Lamine Yamal scoring twice and Marc Pubill and Nico Williams also finding the net, while Dion Drena Beljo scored Croatia's goal. Looking at the broader rivalry, the sides had met 12 times, with Croatia winning three, Spain winning seven and two matches ending in draws, underlining Spain's historical dominance even before Tuesday's surprise start. Spain's attacking engine this campaign has run through Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, whose early-game instincts have made him a constant menace for La Roja, much like his recent outings detailed in Spain's win over Czechia.
How to Watch the Match in the United States
For fans in the U.S. looking to follow the rest of the action, FOX Sports, FuboTV and ViX are available as broadcast options, with kickoff having taken place at 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT. The clash is one of several high-stakes Nations League fixtures this window, following the same midweek slate that included France's clash with Belgium.
The stakes extend beyond pride. A positive result for Spain, even a draw, was already enough to move La Roja closer to sealing their spot in the knockout stage, while Croatia needed to defend their shock lead to salvage something from a brutal week and avoid slipping further down the Group A3 table before the next international break.