In a tightly contested friendly match played in Kristianstad, the Croatian handball team narrowly lost to Sweden with a score of 31-34 (17-17). The second match is scheduled for three days later in Varaždin. While most European teams are participating in additional qualifying matches for the 2027 World Championship, Croatia and Sweden have already secured their spots at the event.

Croatia secured its place at the World Championship by winning a bronze medal at the recent European Championship, while Sweden qualified through a complex qualification system and a direct spot reserved for Germany as the host and Denmark as the current world champion.

The selection of 21 players called by coach Dagur Sigurdsson for this game saw the team lose several key players due to injuries. Luka Cindrić, Filip Glavaš, Leon Šušnja, Luka Lovre Klarica, and Zlatko Raužan were all absent. To compensate, Sigurdsson called up young players like Petra Šprem, Antonia Berislava Tokić, and Tea Popović.

Croatia started the match well, taking a 7-3 lead, but Sweden quickly leveled the score and the rest of the first half was a goal-for-goal affair, ending at 17-17 at halftime. In the second half, the match remained unpredictable. Croatia led 22-20 and had several chances to increase their lead, but Sweden fought back and eventually took the lead in the final minutes, securing the victory with a final score of 34-31.

The Swedish team was led by Felix Claar and Axel Mansson, each scoring seven goals, and Leon Halen added five more. For Croatia, Tin Lučin scored six goals, Veron Načinović added five, while Patrik Martinović and Marin Jelinić each scored four goals.