HNK Hajduk Split begins its campaign for the SuperSport Croatian Football Cup with a round of 16 match against Neretva. The fixture is scheduled for Saturday, September 8, 2026, in Vardarac with a 16:30 kick-off, and will be broadcast live on MAXSport 1, as reported by Index.hr Sport.
The White Ones approach this match while sitting fourth in the HNL with 10 points from five matches played. Their record stands at three wins, one draw, and one loss, with recent form across all competitions reading WWWDL. They have scored 11 goals, conceded 5, for a +6 goal difference. In the title race, they trail leaders NK Osijek by two points. Before the cup tie, Hajduk will face Rudes away in the league on September 6, a match you can track on our fixtures page.
When are the other round of 16 matches played?
The Croatian Cup round of 16 will be played across two weekends, on September 8, 9, 15, and 16. Besides Hajduk, three other major Croatian clubs enter the fray at this stage. Dinamo Zagreb will play away at Bedem, Rijeka travels to Vrbovec, and league leaders Osijek visit Segesta. The winners of these ties will advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.
This schedule presents a challenge for Hajduk, who will play three important matches in a short span. After visiting Rudes in the league on September 6, comes the cup trip to Vardarac, followed by a return to league duties. Their current position in the standings shows they are very close to the top, and success in the Cup could provide a further boost for the entire season.
What does this match mean for Hajduk's ambitions?
For the Split club, the Croatian Cup is always one of the seasonal priorities. Advancing past Neretva would be the first step towards a potential trophy win. Although Neretva is theoretically a weaker opponent on paper, an away match at a smaller stadium in Vardarac always carries certain challenges. Hajduk will need to show concentration and quality to avoid an upset.
The squad currently boasts a solid goal difference and a good defensive setup that has conceded only five goals in five league rounds. This statistical fact provides confidence ahead of this encounter. A win in the Cup would open the path to the quarter-finals and keep alive realistic hopes for a 'double' this season.
How is Hajduk positioned ahead of this run of matches?
After a start to the season that brought three wins, one draw, and one loss, Hajduk enters a densely packed September calendar. The away match at Rudes will be a test before the cup challenge. The coach and players will have the task of managing squad energy properly to achieve good results in both competitions. The current squad has enough depth to handle such challenges.
Hajduk is just two points behind Osijek at the top of the table, making every upcoming match important for maintaining pressure at the summit. The next league match after the cup break will be another step in that goal. Hajduk continues its Cup journey on September 8 at 16:30 at the stadium in Vardarac.
