Croatia will host England on October 3 at HNK Rijeka Stadium in a match mostly closed to the public, with only children and a small number of traveling fans allowed to attend. UEFA imposed the restrictions following fan misconduct during a previous Nations League game involving Croatia.
The decision came after Croatian supporters caused disturbances at a 2025 UEFA Nations League match in France, lighting flares and firecrackers. Seven fans were briefly detained over allegations of performing Nazi salutes, though they were released due to insufficient evidence. UEFA responded by banning traveling Croatian fans for home Nations League fixtures and ordering the October match against England to be played behind closed doors.
Despite the ban on spectators, UEFA's disciplinary code permits several exceptions. These include team officials, journalists, police, security personnel, and notably children under 14 who attend free of charge when invited from schools or football academies. This means the HNK Rijeka Stadium, which holds just over 8,000 spectators, could be filled primarily with young fans and their supervisors.
England supporters were initially barred from attending as well, but after discussions between the England Supporters Travel Club and UEFA in September, 100 complimentary tickets were allocated to traveling English fans. This arrangement is expected to create a unique atmosphere, contrasting a small group of vocal English supporters with a larger crowd of Croatian children.
This fixture will mark Croatia’s first home match since the 2026 World Cup, adding significance despite the limited attendance. Both teams are competing in the Nations League after recent losses to Spain. England recovered from their defeat with a 2-0 win over Czechia, while Croatia also beat the Czechs 2-1.
The unusual crowd arrangement at Rijeka will test the players’ ability to perform in a sparse, unconventional setting. UEFA’s sanctions aim to discourage further fan misconduct, but the presence of children and a handful of England fans will ensure the match is not completely silent.
The game is set to kick off under these strict conditions, with the latest confirmed update being the allocation of 100 tickets to England’s traveling fans.
According to Yahoo Sports.