Overview
- The test match against Hajduk Split is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026 at 15:00 CET in the Volksparkstadion and is being shown on HSV.tv, the club’s YouTube channel and Sky.
- Vuskovic’s comeback follows the end of a four‑year doping suspension that the Court of Arbitration for Sport upheld and the club’s subsequent dissolution of his original contract for legal protection.
- HSV players, staff and thousands of fans consistently showed public solidarity during the suspension, and Croatia Hamburg is staging a 'Vuskovic‑Tag' fan festival before the game with reserved fan blocks to thank the club.
- Coach Merlin Polzin and teammates say training impressions are strong and that Vuskovic must earn his place, with reporting indicating he is likely to compete immediately for a starting role.
- The episode has already shaped HSV’s identity and revenue patterns through high shirt sales and rising membership, and his performance in the test will influence whether that fan‑driven momentum translates into a sustained sporting role.