EURO QUALIFIERS

Historic success for WU17: League A status secured and promotion to Pot 2

19.03.2026.

Photo by: NK Karlovac

The Croatia women’s under-17 national team concluded their UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign with a 2-2 draw against Turkey in Karlovac. Although they did not qualify for the final tournament, Croatia achieved a historic result by not only retaining their League A status for the next qualifying cycle but also securing a place in Pot 2 of League A.

TURKEY – CROATIA 2:2

Venue: Branko Čavlović-Čavlek Stadium (Karlovac)
Referee: Lena Hirtl (Austria)

Goals: Vujičić 37’ pen (0:1), Pecić 53’ (0:2), Balci 74’ (1:2), Gür 89’ pen (2:2)
Yellow cards: Buket Özsoy 39’, Kalaš 89’

TURKEY
Güneş, Damla, Burcu Özsoy, Sıla, Berra, Tong (Şanlı 78’), Gür, Temelkuran (Akçil 68’), Balci, Buket Özsoy, Demirtaş (Dede 68’)

CROATIA
Rabar, Skopljak, Čikvar, Madić, Kalaš, Stefanović, Buljat (Pecić 46’), Bubica (Nikšić 78’), Popić, Alajbegović, Vujičić

Croatia took the lead through Jana Vujičić from the penalty spot in the 37th minute, while Dora Marta Pecić doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute. Turkey reduced the deficit in the 74th minute through Balci, before Gür converted a penalty in the 89th minute to level the score at 2-2.

In their previous matches, Croatia suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to England, while in the opening game they recorded an important 2-1 victory over Italy despite being reduced to ten players.

Coached by Božidar Miletić, Croatia’s women’s under-17 national team finished the qualifying campaign in second place in the group, achieving a historic milestone. Not only did they secure their place in League A, but they also reached Pot 2 of League A for the first time. This means they will continue to compete among Europe’s top teams in the next qualifying cycle for the 2027 UEFA Women’s Under-17 European Championship.

England qualified for the final tournament, while Turkey, as the bottom-placed team in the group, will move to League B. The final tournament will take place in April in Northern Ireland.

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