After the result of the Paris match against France, the Croatian national football team learned which group they will play in for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Following their loss to the "Tricolors," Croatia will be placed in Group L, where their opponents will be the Czech Republic, Montenegro, the Faroe Islands, and Gibraltar. Had Croatia won against France, they would have been in Group D, alongside Ukraine, Iceland, and Azerbaijan.

Croatia will begin their qualification campaign in June with an away match against Gibraltar. The 12 group winners from the European qualifiers will secure direct qualification for the World Cup, while the 12 second-placed teams and four group winners from the Nations League who have not secured direct qualification or second place in their group will advance to additional qualifiers, which will determine the remaining four World Cup spots.

Croatia's qualification schedule:

• June: Gibraltar – Croatia

• June: Croatia – Czech Republic

• September: Faroe Islands – Croatia

• September: Croatia – Montenegro

• October: Czech Republic – Croatia

• October: Croatia – Gibraltar

• November: Croatia – Faroe Islands

• November: Montenegro – Croatia
  
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