Two of the hopefuls heading into the 2026 World Cup meet at Stadion HNK Rijeka on Tuesday evening with both Croatia and Belgium hoping to build momentum before the tournament.
Croatia are currently ranked 11th in the Fifa world rankings, with Belgium just two places higher and both nations will see this match as an opportunity to pick up a confidence boosting win a matter of days before the World Cup begins.
Best Bets & Predictions
With both sides bringing some decent form into this fixture, and World Cup momentum on the line, we can see this being a tight contest. Neither side will want to give much away and players will have one eye on grabbing a place in the starting line ups for the tournament ahead leading to a low-scoring affair.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | 5/2 @ Bet365 (28.6%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Neither set of players will be playing with the intensity that they are capable of, with places in the World Cup starting elevens at stake. This could lead to a slow-paced affair with neither side committing too much. |
| Under 2.5 Goals | 1/1 @ BOYLE Sports (50%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | With both sides likely to take their feet off the gas in this fixture, goals could be in short supply. Four of the last five meetings between these two sides have failed to beat the 2.5 goal line and we can’t see this one being any different. |
Odds correct at the time of writing.
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How both sides head into Croatia vs Belgium
Croatia come into this match off the back of eight victories in their last 10 matches. Included in this run have been impressive wins over Czech Republic and Montenegro but there have also been disappointing losses to France and Brazil. Those losses might indicate that Croatia struggle against the elite nations in world football but they will point to their runs in the past two World Cups, where they reached a semi-final and a final, as proof that they can compete with the best. Croatia have averaged 2.9 goals per game over their last 10 matches, conceding just 0.8 goals per game on average.
Belgium’s form is even more impressive, with the Red Devils being unbeaten in their last 11 matches. Goals have certainly flowed for Belgium in this time, with an average of 3.45 goals per game being scored over that period and conceding just 0.9 per game on average. Their wins haven’t been over truly elite nations but comprehensive victories over Wales, Ukraine and USA indicate that Belgium have the ability to be real contenders this summer.
Head-to-Head: Last 6 Meetings
Belgium have the edge over the last six meetings with Croatia, winning three of the last six and only losing one during that period. Only two of these matches have seen three or more goals, with both teams finding the net in three of the six matches.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 01/12/22 | Croatia 0-0 Belgium | World Cup |
| 06/06/21 | Belgium 1-0 Croatia | Friendly |
| 11/10/13 | Croatia 1-2 Belgium | World Cup Qualifier |
| 11/09/12 | Belgium 1-1 Croatia | World Cup Qualifier |
| 03/03/10 | Belgium 0-1 Croatia | Friendly |
| 10/09/03 | Belgium 2-1 Croatia | European Championship Qualifier |
Conclusion: Who claims vital World Cup momentum?
Although both teams will be looking for confidence and momentum heading into the World Cup, neither will be going full throttle to claim the win and risk injury ahead of the tournament. A slow-paced affair could be on the cards and we’re backing the draw at 5/2 with Bet365. Goals could be at a premium and the Under 2.5 Goals at Evens with BOYLE Sports also appeals.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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