The Croatian Football Federation confirmed the Group C1 lineup following a draw involving 54 national teams divided into three leagues. The competition will begin in February 2027, with Croatia playing home and away against each of their three opponents across six group-stage matches. The final standings will determine which teams advance directly to League B and which remain in contention for promotion through play-offs.
For Croatia, the new campaign represents an opportunity to respond to the disappointment of missing out on the 2027 Women's World Cup. Head coach Nenad Gračan's team endured a difficult qualifying play-off against Iceland, suffering a 4–0 home defeat before losing 5–0 in the return match in Reykjavik. Those results underlined the challenges Croatia continue to face against higher-ranked European opponents and the importance of building greater consistency at international level.
Slovakia Could Provide Croatia's Toughest Challenge
Slovakia enter Group C1 as the highest-ranked team in the section according to UEFA's competition seeding. The Slovak national team were placed in the first seeding pot, while Croatia entered from the second, making their encounters particularly significant in the battle for first place and direct promotion.
Both nations competed in League B during the 2026 Women's European Qualifiers, with Slovakia finishing among the two lowest-ranked third-placed teams and Croatia ending their campaign as a group runner-up. Those results placed both countries in League C for the next Nations League cycle, creating an opportunity for an immediate return to a higher competitive level.
The Slovak Football Association has already identified first place as the main objective, recognising that only group winners are guaranteed promotion to League B. That ambition is likely to make the meetings between Croatia and Slovakia especially important, although the final outcome will depend on performances across all six fixtures.
Bulgaria and Gibraltar complete the group. Bulgaria entered the draw from a lower seeding position than Croatia, while Gibraltar were among the lowest-ranked participants in League C. Nevertheless, the Croatian side will need to approach both opponents seriously, as dropped points could prove costly in a competition where the margin between automatic promotion and a play-off place may be narrow.
The home-and-away format also introduces different challenges, requiring teams to adapt to unfamiliar venues, playing conditions and opponents' tactical approaches. Croatia will need to combine attacking effectiveness with defensive discipline if they hope to establish themselves as contenders for the top position.
League C Offers a Route Back to a Higher Level
The 2027 UEFA Women's Nations League will feature 54 national associations divided into three competitive levels based on their positions in the final overall rankings of the 2026 Women's European Qualifiers.
League A and League B each contain 16 teams, arranged into four groups of four. League C includes the remaining 22 teams, split into four groups of four and two groups of three. Croatia's placement in a four-team group means they will play six fixtures, with three at home and three away.
The competition's promotion structure provides a clear incentive for success. Each of the six League C group winners will advance automatically to League B, while the two highest-ranked runners-up across the six groups will qualify for promotion play-offs against third-placed teams from League B.
These play-offs will be contested over two legs, with the winners securing places in League B for the following Women's European Qualifiers cycle. Teams that do not achieve promotion will remain in League C.
For Croatia, returning to League B would represent an important objective because it would provide opportunities to compete more regularly against stronger European opponents. Those matches could support the development of the national team while allowing players to gain experience against different tactical systems and higher levels of international competition.
The Nations League also has consequences beyond its own standings. The results determine teams' league positions for the next Women's European Championship qualifying cycle, making promotion particularly valuable for countries seeking to improve their long-term competitive prospects.
Gračan Faces an Important Rebuilding Challenge
Croatia's participation in the new Nations League cycle comes at an important stage in the development of the women's national team. Under Nenad Gračan, the squad have experienced both encouraging performances and difficult results, demonstrating the need for continued improvement in defensive organisation, attacking efficiency and consistency.
The World Cup qualifying play-off against Iceland provided a particularly demanding examination. Croatia were unable to match the Scandinavian side's attacking quality and physical intensity, conceding nine goals across the two matches. Although the defeats ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup, the experience offered valuable lessons for the coaching staff and players.
The upcoming Nations League campaign will give Gračan an opportunity to assess the squad's progress against opponents from a different competitive level. Matches against Slovakia, Bulgaria and Gibraltar could provide more opportunities for Croatia to develop attacking combinations, establish greater possession control and improve confidence.
However, the competition should not be viewed simply as a rebuilding exercise. With promotion to League B available, every match will carry significant importance, and Croatia will need to demonstrate that they can translate their potential into consistent results.
The national team must also continue balancing the experience of established internationals with opportunities for younger players. Developing squad depth and preparing the next generation for senior international football will remain important priorities as Croatia work towards future European qualifying campaigns.
Six Nations League Matches Scheduled for 2027
UEFA has confirmed that the 2027 Women's Nations League group stage will be played across three international windows between February and June. The opening two rounds are scheduled between February 23 and March 6, followed by two further matches in April and the concluding fixtures in June.
The exact order of Croatia's opponents, individual match dates, venues and kick-off times has not yet been confirmed in the official announcements reviewed. Those details will be published separately once the fixture schedule is finalised.
Croatia Aim for a Fresh Start
Croatia's draw offers a clear opportunity to establish new momentum after a disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign. The challenge will be to demonstrate greater consistency across six matches while competing against teams with similar ambitions of reaching a higher level.
Slovakia could prove particularly difficult given their position as the group's top-seeded team, while Bulgaria and Gibraltar will present opportunities for Croatia to demonstrate progress. Nevertheless, success will depend on performances rather than pre-tournament expectations, and each opponent will have its own objectives.
The competition will also provide an important measure of how Croatia are developing under Gračan. Stronger organisation, effective finishing and the ability to manage pressure will be essential if the squad hope to improve their international standing.
Croatia's 2027 Women's Nations League campaign offers both a competitive challenge and an opportunity for renewal. Drawn alongside Slovakia, Bulgaria and Gibraltar, the national team have a clear route towards promotion to League B. After the disappointment of missing the World Cup, Gračan and his players will now look to turn that setback into motivation and begin a more encouraging chapter for Croatian women's football.
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