Croatian fans break 'Rocky curse' in Philadelphia, prompting tourism push

Following Croatia's 2‑1 victory over Ghana that qualified the team for the World Cup round of 16, a group of Croatian supporters organised a secret activation at the iconic Rocky statue in Philadelphia. A special Croatian‑themed jersey was displayed on the monument, an effort sponsored by Arena Casino and kept hidden until the win was secured.

The spontaneous celebration was captured on video, went viral on social media and attracted coverage from U.S. media. Recognising the earned‑media value, the Croatian Tourist Board invited the American couple, Ashton and Zach Smith, who happened to be at the event, to visit Croatia as part of a real‑time marketing campaign promoting the country as a travel destination.