Croatia vs Mexico: World Cup head-to-head record
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Mexico hold a perfect World Cup head-to-head record against Croatia, winning both meetings across all FIFA World Cup tournaments from 1930 to 2022. Croatia have never beaten Mexico at a World Cup, with El Tri claiming a 1-0 victory in 2002 and a commanding 3-1 win in 2014 — giving Mexico a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series with no draws.
The two nations have met twice at the World Cup, both times in the group stage, and on each occasion Mexico emerged victorious, meaning Croatia are yet to take a single point off their North American rivals on football's biggest stage.
All-time World Cup H2H summary
Across two World Cup encounters, Mexico have been the dominant side. Their first meeting came at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, where a first-matchday clash saw Mexico edge out Croatia 1-0 in a tight group-stage contest. Twelve years later, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Mexico produced a far more emphatic performance, defeating Croatia 3-1 in a Matchday 12 group fixture. Croatia pulled a goal back but ultimately could not prevent another defeat to the same opponent.
Full match-by-match record
Below is every World Cup match played between Croatia and Mexico:
2002 FIFA World Cup — Group Stage, Matchday 1: Croatia 0-1 Mexico
2014 FIFA World Cup — Group Stage, Matchday 12: Croatia 1-3 Mexico
What the record means
Croatia's overall World Cup pedigree is strong — they reached the final in 1998 and the semi-finals in 2018 and 2022 — but Mexico represent a specific blind spot for them on the world stage. Mexico's two wins demonstrate their ability to control these particular encounters, especially the 2014 performance which stands as the more convincing result. Fans looking to follow any future clash between these sides can track live scores and the full 2026 schedule at Bola 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Have Croatia ever beaten Mexico at the World Cup?
No. Croatia have never beaten Mexico in a FIFA World Cup match. In their two meetings — 2002 and 2014 — Mexico won on both occasions, by scores of 1-0 and 3-1 respectively. Croatia are yet to even draw against Mexico at a World Cup.
When did Croatia and Mexico last play at a World Cup?
The last World Cup meeting between Croatia and Mexico was at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a group-stage fixture on Matchday 12 that Mexico won 3-1. Croatia scored one goal but conceded three in the defeat.
How many times have Croatia and Mexico met at the World Cup?
Croatia and Mexico have met exactly twice at the FIFA World Cup — in 2002 (a 1-0 Mexico win) and in 2014 (a 3-1 Mexico win). There have been no draws and no Croatia victories across those two encounters.