Montenegro Hosts Croatia in World Cup Qualifying Clash

Podgorica, Montenegro – The Montenegro national football team is set to face Croatia on November 17, 2025, at the Podgorica City Stadium in a decisive World Cup qualifying match.

Montenegro aims to end a challenging qualifying campaign on a positive note against their well-established rivals. Despite their home advantage, the hosts sit fourth in Group L, having gathered only nine points from three wins and four losses. Their defensive struggles have become evident, as shown by a goal difference of minus eight, with 14 goals conceded.

Montenegro’s latest match brought a glimmer of hope, a 2-1 comeback victory over Gibraltar, though their overall form remains concerning, with only two wins in the last five fixtures. They have one victory in their past five qualifying matches, putting significant pressure on their chances of reaching the playoffs.

On the other hand, Croatia has already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup, dominating the group with 19 points from six wins and one draw. Their recent form includes a commanding 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands, showcasing their strong offensive capabilities with 23 goals scored and just two conceded throughout the qualifiers.

Montenegro manager Mirko Vucinic is likely to make tactical adjustments, possibly starting Marko Perovic and reinforcing midfield ahead of the match. However, Croatia’s head coach Zlatko Dalic is expected to maintain a steady lineup that has proven to be successful throughout the campaign.

In their previous encounter, Croatia delivered a resounding 4-0 defeat to Montenegro, emphasizing the disparity between the two teams. Croatia’s dominance indicates they could secure another comfortable victory.

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. BST, with fans eager to see how Montenegro will perform against the group leaders.