Ticket sales for Croatia's two matches against Spain in the Nations League: prices, deadlines and purchase rules announced
The Croatian national football team enters a new UEFA Nations League cycle at the end of September and the beginning of October with four matches over a period of eleven days, with the greatest fan interest expected for the two encounters against reigning world champions Spain. The first will be played on 29 September in Seville, with the return match on 6 October at Poljud Stadium in Split. The Croatian Football Federation has published the ticket sales conditions for both matches, including prices, purchase deadlines, priority purchase rights within the Loyalty Programme and rules relating to mobile tickets. At the same time, it is important for fans to check the source of every offer because in August the HNS warned about fake websites falsely presenting themselves as official ticket sales channels.
According to UEFA's official schedule, Croatia is in Group A3 of League A together with Spain, England and the Czech Republic. Its first match is on 26 September in Prague against the Czech Republic, followed by an away match against Spain on 29 September, a home match against England in Rijeka on 3 October and a match against Spain in Split on 6 October. The group stage continues in November with an away match against England on 12 November and a home encounter with the Czech Republic on 15 November. UEFA has scheduled the first four matchdays of the fifth edition of the Nations League from 24 September to 6 October, while the final two matchdays will be played from 12 to 17 November.
Spain arrive in Seville as reigning world champions
The double encounter with Spain carries additional significance following the 2026 World Cup. According to FIFA data, Spain defeated Argentina 1:0 after extra time in the final in New York/New Jersey on 19 July to win their second world title. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in the 106th minute. Spain therefore entered the autumn international football cycle as both the reigning world and European champions, making the matches against Croatia one of the most attractive pairings in Group A3.
England, Croatia's third opponent in the group, finished the 2026 World Cup in third place, according to FIFA's official final standings and reports. Croatia therefore face two matches against the world champions and one against the World Cup bronze medallists in their first four matchdays. For new head coach Slaven Bilić, this will also be his first competitive international gathering since returning to the national-team bench. On 7 September, the HNS announced his squad for the matches against the Czech Republic, Spain and England, with Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Joško Gvardiol, Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir and other internationals among those called up.
After the 2026 World Cup, Zlatko Dalić stepped down as head coach, and in July the HNS appointed Slaven Bilić as his successor. Bilić previously coached Croatia from 2006 to 2012. The September-October Nations League block therefore opens a new period for the national team with four demanding matches in quick succession.
Czech Republic - Croatia without ticket sales for the Croatian supporters' section
Croatia's first match in the new Nations League edition will be played on Saturday 26 September at 20:45 in Prague, at Fortuna Arena, against the Czech Republic. There will be no ticket sales for the Croatian supporters' section for this match. The reason is a UEFA disciplinary sanction from May 2025 following incidents during the Nations League quarter-final matches between Croatia and France in Split and Paris.
The HNS announced that UEFA's Disciplinary Committee imposed one home match behind closed doors and one away match without the sale of tickets to Croatian supporters. The sanctions also included a total fine of 93,000 euros and an obligation to compensate the French Football Federation for damages. The ban on selling away tickets applies to the match in Prague.
Spain - Croatia in Seville: tickets for the Croatian section at 35 euros
Croatia's second match will be played on Tuesday 29 September at 20:45 against Spain at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in Seville. According to HNS ticket sales information, tickets intended for Croatian supporters will be sold online through the HNS ticket portal, with tickets for the Croatian supporters' sections priced at 35 euros.
General sales begin on Thursday 10 September at 14:00 and will continue until Monday 14 September at 14:00 or until all available tickets are sold. Only citizens of the Republic of Croatia are entitled to purchase tickets, regardless of their residential address, and the required personal information must be entered. One purchaser may buy a maximum of four tickets and must enter the details of every person for whom tickets are being purchased.
For each person, an email address must also be entered and will be linked to the Spanish Football Federation's mobile application to which the ticket will be delivered. The HNS recommends that, whenever possible, each supporter use their own email address and keep their ticket on their own mobile phone. For a person who does not have an email address or smartphone, it is possible to enter the address of the person who will enter the stadium together with them and have both tickets on their device.
Supporters travelling to Andalusia should check in advance how to download and activate their mobile ticket. Because of the evening kick-off, accommodation offers in Seville may also be useful.
Priority purchase rights for the most loyal supporters before the Seville sale
Before general sales begin, some tickets will be available through the HNS Loyalty Programme. According to the published rules, the priority purchase period begins on 9 September at 14:00 and lasts for 24 hours. The HNS states that notification of priority purchase rights will not be sent by email; during this period, purchases can only be made by users who meet the criteria and log in to the ticket portal.
The first 100 supporters with more than 25 points in the Loyalty Programme have the right to purchase two tickets each. Supporters ranked from 101st to 292nd, who have between 18 and 24 points, may purchase one ticket each. On its official website, the HNS explains that the Loyalty Programme includes home and away tickets purchased through the HNS portal using the supporter's OIB during the past five years. Tickets for the final stages of major competitions sold through FIFA or UEFA are not included in this calculation because the HNS does not have complete information about such purchases.
Croatia - England in Rijeka will be played without the general public
The third match of the cycle is scheduled for Saturday 3 October at 18:00 in Rijeka, where Croatia will host England. The second part of UEFA's disciplinary sanction applies to this match, namely the decision requiring Croatia to play one home match in a competition under UEFA's jurisdiction behind closed doors. Tickets for the general public will therefore not be sold.
According to published information, the HNS has used the option available under disciplinary rules to organise free attendance at the behind-closed-doors match for children aged up to 14. Attendance is being coordinated through county football associations and football academies.
Croatia - Spain at Poljud: advance-sale prices from 30 to 65 euros
Croatia's fourth match in this international block will be played on Tuesday 6 October at 20:45 at Poljud Stadium in Split. Ticket sales begin on Friday 18 September, both online through the HNS portal and at selected Petrol service stations in Split and the surrounding area. Online sales begin at 13:00, while sales at Petrol locations begin at 15:00 on the same day.
The following prices have been announced for the advance-sale period from 18 September to 5 October:
- West centre, sectors D and E: 65 €
- West, sectors B, C, F and G: 55 €
- East centre, sectors P and R: 65 €
- East, sectors N, O, S and T: 55 €
- North/South: 30 €
If tickets are not sold out before matchday, higher prices will apply to online purchases on 6 October:
- West centre, sectors D and E: 70 €
- West, sectors B, C, F and G: 60 €
- East centre, sectors P and R: 70 €
- East, sectors N, O, S and T: 60 €
- North/South: 35 €
Sales will continue until kick-off or until the available allocation is sold out. For supporters arriving from other cities or countries, the evening kick-off may mean an overnight stay is necessary, so before travelling they can check accommodation in Split and near Poljud.
The "print at home" option is no longer available for Poljud
For the match in Split, the HNS has emphasised the transition to mobile tickets. All tickets will be available exclusively in the HNS mobile-phone application, while printing tickets at home is no longer provided for. Purchases are still made through the online portal, but after purchase the ticket is downloaded in the mobile application. Buyers should receive additional information a few days before the match about when and how to download the ticket at the email address provided during purchase.
A Croatian citizen who enters their own details as the purchaser is entitled to buy tickets, and one person may purchase a maximum of four tickets. The other supporters for whom tickets are purchased do not all have to be Croatian citizens, but their personal information must be entered into the system. As with the away match in Spain, an email address linked to the mobile application is entered for every user. If a person does not have their own email address or a suitable device, the ticket may be linked to the address of the person with whom they will enter the stadium.
For supporters with disabilities, the HNS has a separate application procedure through its official ticket portal for persons with disabilities. On its general ticket information page, the Federation also states that all visitors, regardless of age, must have a valid ticket and that persons under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets will also be sold at six Petrol locations
For the Croatia - Spain match, physical ticket sales are also planned at six Petrol service stations in Split, Dugopolje, Kaštela and Šibenik:
- Petrol Split, Zagorski put 29, Split
- Petrol Split, Dujmovača, Solinska 35, Split
- Petrol Dugopolje north, Put bana 15, Dugopolje
- Petrol Kaštel Novi, Cesta pape Ivana Pavla II. 366, Kaštela
- Petrol Šibenik, Put Bioca 15, Šibenik
- Petrol Šibenik, Ulica 113. šibenske brigade HV-a 20, Šibenik
Customers at these points of sale receive a purchase confirmation and instructions for downloading the mobile ticket. The process includes scanning the QR code on the confirmation, entering the email address to which the purchaser wants the ticket delivered and confirming that address by clicking the link sent by email. Because a physical purchase does not provide a conventional paper ticket for stadium entry, the purchaser must complete the entire digital process before arriving at Poljud.
Loyalty Programme for Split covers a broader group of supporters
Priority purchase rights for the Croatia - Spain match in Split begin on Thursday 17 September at 12:00 and last for 24 hours. During this period, supporters who meet the criteria of the HNS Loyalty Programme may make a purchase. Priority purchase rights are allocated according to the number of points and position in the programme ranking:
- the first 19 supporters with more than 32 points may purchase four tickets each
- supporters ranked from 20th to 100th with 25 to 31 points may purchase three tickets each
- supporters ranked from 101st to 292nd with 18 to 24 points may purchase two tickets each
- supporters ranked from 293rd to 1318th with 8 to 17 points may purchase one ticket each
The HNS states that no individual email notification will be sent for this priority purchase period either. Supporters who believe they meet the criteria must log in to the official portal within the specified period, after which the system identifies users entitled to make a purchase.
Identity checks at Poljud and warning about resale
For the match in Split, the HNS has announced strict checks of the personal details on tickets. The Federation warns that security staff will compare the information on the ticket with the identity of the person attempting to enter the stadium and that entry using another person's details will not be permitted. In its general terms and conditions, the HNS also states that a ticket may not be resold or transferred to third parties without the Federation's prior consent, and an unauthorised transferred or resold ticket may be cancelled without entitlement to a refund.
The sales announcement for Poljud specifically warns against purchases on the "black market". The HNS states that, in cooperation with the police, it will cancel tickets found in unauthorised resale and report resellers to the competent authorities. A person holding a cancelled ticket or a ticket issued in another person's name will not be allowed to enter the stadium, and the HNS does not provide for reimbursement of the value of such a ticket. According to the security rules for the match in Split, bringing in and displaying banners and flags larger than the standard size of two by one metre will not be permitted.
HNS warns about fake ticket websites
Particular caution is also required before making a purchase. On 18 August, the Croatian Football Federation issued a warning about fake websites falsely presenting themselves as official HNS ticket sales websites. According to the Federation, such websites can create the impression through their appearance and content that they are official channels and may lead users to purchase invalid tickets or enter personal and financial information.
The HNS recommends accessing information and the ticket sales portal through its official channels. The Federation stated that it had reported the fake websites to the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia and warned supporters to verify the authenticity of the link before entering personal or card details.
The two matches against Spain will be the central fixtures of Bilić's first competitive cycle since returning to the Croatia bench. The away match in Seville comes three days after the opening match against the Czech Republic, while the return match at Poljud will be played only three days after the encounter with England in Rijeka. For supporters planning to attend, the most important points are to monitor sales deadlines, mobile-ticket rules and Loyalty Programme conditions and to use verified official channels in order to avoid invalid or unauthorised resold tickets.
Sources:
- Croatian Football Federation - official page on tickets, the Loyalty Programme and general ticket terms and conditions (link)
- Croatian Football Federation - warning about fake ticket sales websites dated 18 August 2026 (link)
- Croatian Football Federation - decision on sanctions following incidents during the Nations League quarter-final matches against France (link)
- Croatian Football Federation - Slaven Bilić's squad and the context of the first gathering of his new tenure (link)
- UEFA - official schedule of the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 league phase matches by national team (link)
- FIFA - report from the 2026 World Cup final and confirmation that Spain are world champions (link)
- FIFA - final standings of the 2026 World Cup, including England's third place (link)