In a friendly match played in Varaždin, the Croatian handball team secured a 35-31 victory over Sweden, reversing a recent 31-34 loss in Kristianstad. This win marks the end of a losing streak against Sweden that had lasted since 2018. Since then, the Swedish handball team had won four consecutive matches against Croatia, including at the 2019 World Championship for fifth place, the 1924 Paris Olympics, the 2024 European Championship, and the recent match in Kristianstad. The losing streak finally came to an end in Varaždin.

The opening of the match saw ten ties. Croatia pulled ahead in the 21st minute with a three-goal lead (13-10), though Sweden narrowed the gap to one goal by halftime, leaving the first half with Croatia leading by two goals. In the second half, the Croatian players, led by Dagur Sigurðsson, maintained their lead throughout, at times with a four-goal advantage. Ten minutes before the end, Sweden narrowed the gap to a single goal, but Croatia took the lead again with 34-30 two minutes before the end and secured the victory. Both teams scored one goal in the final minutes, ending the match at 35-31.

Leon Ljevar led Croatia to victory with six goals, while Mario Šoštarić and Ivan Martinović each scored five goals, and Tin Lučin added four goals to the tally.