The earliest record of football in Croatia dates from 1873, when English engineers and technicians for Stabilimento tecnico Fiumano played in Rijeka against the engineers building the local railway line, with local Fiumans also taking part in the game. The first recorded football match in the Kingdom of Croatia was played in 1880 in Županja, between English workers of The Oak Extract Company and local youths.
The earliest known instance of football in Croatia was documented in 1873 when English engineers from Stabilimento tecnico Fiumano played against railway workers in Rijeka. Local Croatians also participated in the game.  The first recorded match in the Kingdom of Croatia occurred in 1880, taking place in Županja between employees of The Oak Extract Company and local youth.