The Croatian World Club Championship was founded in 2007 by the Croatian Heritage Foundation and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Croatia. The tournament is held every four years in Croatia by various host cities and venues. Clubs and teams with Croatian heritage or connections (Croatian diaspora) from around the world are selected for invitation to participate in the eight team tournament.
The inaugural tournament was hosted by Zagreb and surrounding region between 24 and 30 June 2007. Toronto Croatia won the first championship with a 3–1 victory over runner-up Canberra Croatia. Croatian Football Federation president Vlatko Marković presented Toronto the Championship trophy. Burgenland Croatian finished third.[1]
The second tournament was hosted by Split and surrounding region between 26 June and 1 July 2011. Toronto Croatia claimed back to back titles in 2011 with a 5–0 victory in the championship final over runner-up Canberra Croatia. SV Dinamo Ottakring finished third.[2]
The third edition of the tournament was hosted by Zagreb and surrounding region between 28 June and 4 July 2015. NK Pajde Möhlin won its first title in the 2015 edition of the tournament with a 4–0 victory in the championship final over runner-up Vojvođanski Hrvati. Toronto Croatia finished third.[3]
Format of Championship
Structure
8 teams compete
Those 8 teams are separated into 2 groups of 4 teams each
Winner of each group advances to the championship final
Runner-up of each group advances to bronze play-off
Rules
3 points for a win
1 point for a draw
0 points for a loss
Goal differences used to differentiate two teams on equal points in group stage
Schedule
Group matches are played over three game days, each consisting of two matches
The bronze play-off and championship final are played on the same day (fourth game day)
The inaugural tournament was hosted by Zagrab and surrounding region between 24 and 30 June 2007. The eight teams selected to participate were: Toronto Croatia (Canada), SC Croat San Pedro (USA), HNK Zrinski Chicago (USA) from CONCACAF, Sydney United (Australia) from AFC, NK Croatia Essen (Germany), SD Croatia Berlin (Germany), AS Croatia Villefranche (France) and Burgenland Croatian (Austria) from UEFA. Of these only Burgenland was not an established club, but rather a selection side assembled after the Croatian World Games.[4] Sydney United had to withdraw from the tournament due to financial and organisational reasons, so Canberra FC (known as Canberra Croatia at the tournament) stepped in to participate.
17:30 | Stadion Hrvatskog dragovoljca | Toronto Croatia - Sydney United 58 | 5:2 (1:1)
29 June 2015
18:30 | Stadion Hrvatskog dragovoljca | AS Croatia Villefranche - Vojvođanski Hrvati | 1:3
1 July 2015
16:00 | Stadion Intera, Zaprešić | Vojvođanski Hrvati - Sydney United 58 | 3:1
19:30 | Stadion Intera, Zaprešić | Toronto Croatia - AS Croatia Villefranche | 1:1 (0:0)
2 July 2015
18:30 | Stadion Lučko | Vojvođanski Hrvati - Toronto Croatia | 2:2 (1:0)
18:30 | Stadion Rudeša | Sydney United 58 - AS Croatia Villefranche | 0:6