The decisive encounter finished 1–1 after regular time, with Croatian captain Stjepan Habek scoring his team's goal. With neither side able to secure victory during normal play, the championship was decided by a penalty shootout in which Croatian goalkeeper David Cigula produced an exceptional performance. He saved all three attempts from Guinea, while Dani Pintarić, Teo Benko and Habek successfully converted their penalties to secure a 3–0 shootout victory.
The triumph represents a historic achievement for Croatian school football and highlights the quality of young players developing through the country's educational and football systems. The 19-member squad, drawn from four secondary schools in Varaždin County, completed the tournament undefeated and returned home with one of the most prestigious titles available in international school sport.
David Cigula Becomes Croatia's Penalty Shootout Hero
The World Cup final against Guinea provided a dramatic conclusion to Croatia's impressive campaign. Facing determined opponents in a match with the world title at stake, the Croatian players once again demonstrated the composure and collective strength that had carried them through the earlier rounds.
Captain Stjepan Habek delivered a crucial contribution by finding the net during regular time, ensuring that Croatia remained in contention for the championship. Guinea also scored, leaving the teams level at 1–1 and forcing the decisive penalty shootout.
That was when goalkeeper David Cigula took centre stage. The young Croatian produced three consecutive saves, denying every Guinea player who attempted a penalty. His performance meant that Croatia needed only three successful kicks to settle the contest, with Pintarić, Benko and Habek showing remarkable confidence from the penalty spot.
Croatia's 3–0 shootout victory sparked celebrations among players and coaching staff, who had completed a demanding international campaign without suffering a defeat. Cigula's decisive contribution was especially significant because it was not the first time his goalkeeping had helped Croatia survive a difficult knockout encounter. He had also played an important role during the quarter-final against Benin, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure at crucial moments.
Croatia Dominate Group Stage and Knockout Rounds
The Croatian representatives established themselves as serious title contenders during the group stage, winning all three matches and demonstrating impressive attacking efficiency. Their campaign began with consecutive 2–0 victories over Macau and Algeria, results that provided an important foundation for qualification to the knockout phase.
The team's most dominant performance came against India, when Croatia recorded an extraordinary 11–0 victory. The result underlined the attacking quality within the squad and completed a perfect group-stage record, with 15 goals scored and none conceded.
Croatia continued their impressive form in the Round of 16, defeating Morocco 3–0 to advance to the quarter-finals. However, their next opponent, Benin, provided a considerably more demanding challenge. The encounter finished 2–2 after regular time, forcing another penalty shootout in which the Croatian players demonstrated the composure that would later prove decisive in the final.
Having survived that difficult quarter-final, Croatia faced Turkey in the semi-finals. The Turkish team featured players from the renowned Beşiktaş football academy, making the encounter an important test of Croatia's technical quality and tactical organisation.
The Croatian side responded with an outstanding performance, securing a 3–1 victory through goals from Dani Pintarić, Ivano Vidić and Leo Habek. The result confirmed Croatia's place in the final against Guinea and demonstrated that the team could compete successfully against players developing within established professional football structures.
Across seven matches, Croatia recorded five victories in regular time and two wins through penalty shootouts. Their performances combined effective attacking football with resilience in difficult situations, allowing the team to maintain an unbeaten record throughout the championship.
Varaždin Schools Play Central Role in Historic Success
The achievement is particularly significant for Varaždin County, whose secondary schools provided the entire Croatian squad. Of the 19 players who represented the country in China, 14 attend the Second Gymnasium Varaždin, which served as the central institution behind the project.
Three other players attend the Electromechanical School Varaždin, while one student represents Secondary School Novi Marof and another attends the First Private Gymnasium Varaždin. The involvement of four educational institutions demonstrates the strong cooperation between schools and local football development programmes.
The Croatian squad included David Cigula, Rok Hudek, Jan Marić, Mate Tkalčec, David Grahovac-Fedešin, Fran Suhodolčan, David Krobot, Ivano Vidić, Roko Valentak, Niko Gašparić, Ivan Babok, Josip Ereš, Leo Habek, Lovro Mikulčić, Dani Pintarić, Teo Benko, Matej Vugrin, Stjepan Habek and Ivan Posavec.
The coaching staff also played an essential role in preparing the team for the tournament. Goran Labaš, Varaždin County's football instructor, worked alongside Igor Kranjec, a youth coach at NK Varaždin, and strength and conditioning coach Srđan Bajus. Dario Kos, a teacher at the Second Gymnasium Varaždin and goalkeeping coach at NK Varaždin, served as team manager and project leader.
Their collective work helped establish a competitive squad capable of adapting to different opponents and delivering consistent performances during a demanding international tournament. The successful combination of school education and structured football training provides an encouraging example of how talented young athletes can develop while continuing their academic responsibilities.
Croatian School Sport Celebrates World Championship Triumph
The achievement received widespread recognition across Croatian sport, with the Croatian Football Federation, Croatian Olympic Committee and Croatian School Sports Federation celebrating the historic success.
Ivan Dujić, secretary general of the Croatian School Sports Federation, praised the players' determination, teamwork and ability to compete successfully against strong international opposition. He highlighted the importance of school sport in developing young athletes and expressed hope that the achievement would encourage more students to become involved in organised sporting activities.
The Croatian Olympic Committee also congratulated the players, coaching staff and participating schools, recognising the significance of winning a world championship against international competition. Their success has brought considerable attention to Varaždin's educational institutions and highlighted the contribution of local coaches and teachers to the development of Croatian football.
The City of Varaždin, which financially supported the team's participation in the competition, also congratulated the young champions. The support provided by local institutions played an important role in enabling the squad to travel to China and represent Croatia on the international stage.
Croatia's success is particularly encouraging because it demonstrates that international football achievements are not limited to professional academies or senior national teams. School competitions provide another pathway for young athletes to develop confidence, gain international experience and test themselves against players from different football cultures.
For many members of the Varaždin squad, competing in China represented an opportunity to experience international tournament football for the first time. Winning the championship will undoubtedly remain a memorable milestone in their sporting development, regardless of whether they eventually pursue professional careers.
A Golden Generation for Varaždin Football
The world title represents an exceptional accomplishment for a group of young athletes who combined academic responsibilities with the demands of international competition. Their undefeated campaign included dominant victories, difficult knockout encounters and two successful penalty shootouts, demonstrating both footballing ability and mental resilience.
The contributions of captain Stjepan Habek, goalkeeper David Cigula and the entire squad proved essential to Croatia's success. While Cigula's penalty saves provided the defining moment of the final, the championship was built on consistent teamwork, disciplined preparation and important contributions from players across the squad.
The achievement also reinforces Varaždin's reputation as an important centre for youth football development in Croatia. With strong connections between schools, local football clubs and experienced coaches, the region has demonstrated its ability to produce talented young players capable of competing successfully on the international stage.
Croatia's triumph at the ISF Football World Cup China 2026 is more than a school sporting success. It is a remarkable achievement for Varaždin, an important milestone for Croatian youth football and a reminder of the potential that can emerge when talented players receive strong support from their schools, coaches and local communities.
More from the newsroom →