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The Croatia World Cup 2026 squad has been named.
Zlatko Dalic's side's World Cup 2026 campaign was fairly straightforward, with just one draw against Czech Republic – and though they won't have one of the strongest squads at the tournament on paper and won't be on the favourites list, that's never stopped them before.
In just seven World Cups since 1998, the Vatreni have reached the semi-finals three times, getting to the showpiece in 2018, where they were beaten by France – though that seems like a tough ask to repeat this time around.
It's a strong Croatian side, led by Luka Modric on 196 international caps: Manchester City pair Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic have both recovered from injury for this one, and there is further experiecne with the likes of Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and Dominik Livakovic.
Martin Baturina, Luka Sucic and Petar Sucic, meanwhile, represent the next generation: they'll be hoping for breakout tournaments in the Croatian midfield as they audition to replace Modric long-term.
The lack of a striker may hurt this team, though: in 2022, a Mandzukic-less side managed to grind out results en route to a final four – in 2018, they did something similar, with three knockout wins in extra-time – but it didn't work quite so well in Euro 2024, with a group stage exit.
With a tough group, which Croatia will turn up?
Squad
Croatia World Cup 2026 squad: The final selection
- GK: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb)
- GK: Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen)
- GK: Ivor Pandur (Hull City)
- DF: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
- DF: Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad)
- DF: Josip Sutalo (Ajax)
- DF: Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich)
- DF: Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina)
- DF: Martin Erlic (Midtjylland)
- DF: Luka Vuskovic (Hamburger SV)
- MF: Luka Modric (Milan)
- MF: Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City)
- MF: Mario Pasalic (Atalanta)
- MF: Nikola Vlasic (Torino)
- MF: Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad)
- MF: Martin Baturina (Como)
- MF: Kristijan Jakic (FC Augsburg)
- MF: Petar Sucic (Inter Milan)
- MF: Nikola Moro (Bologna)
- MF: Toni Fruk (Rijeka)
- FW: Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven)
- FW: Andrej Kramaric (TSG Hoffenheim)
- FW: Ante Budimir (Osasuna)
- FW: Marco Pasalic (Orlando City)
- FW: Petar Musa (FC Dallas)
- FW: Igor Matanovic (SC Freiburg)
Fixtures and results
Fixtures
- June 2, 2026: Croatia vs Belgium, Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka, Croatia
- June 7, 2026: Croatia vs Slovenia, Stadion Varteks, Varazdin, Croatia
- June 17, 2026: England vs Croatia, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, United States
- June 23, 2026: Panama vs Croatia, BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- June 27, 2026: Croatia vs Ghana, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- September 26, 2026: Czech Republic vs Croatia, Stadion Letna, Prague, Czech Republic
- September 29, 2026: Spain vs Croatia, Spain
- October 3, 2026: Croatia vs England, Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka, Croatia
- October 6, 2026: Croatia vs Spain, Stadion Poljud, Split, Croatia
- November 12, 2026: England vs Croatia, Wembley Stadium, London, England
- November 15, 2026: Croatia vs Czech Republic, Opus Arena, Osijek, Croatia
Recent results
- March 26, 2026: Colombia 1-2 Croatia, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, United States
- March 31, 2026: Brazil 3-1 Croatia, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, United States
- November 17, 2025: Montenegro 2-3 Croatia, Podgorica City Stadium, Podgorica, Montenegro
- November 14, 2025: Croatia 3-1 Faroe Islands, Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka, Croatia
- October 12, 2025: Croatia 3-0 Gibraltar, Stadion Varteks, Varaždin, Croatia
- October 9, 2025: Czech Republic 0-0 Croatia, Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic
- September 8, 2025: Croatia 4-0 Montenegro, Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia
- September 5, 2025: Faroe Islands 0-1 Croatia, Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
- June 9, 2025: Croatia 5-1 Czech Republic, Opus Arena, Osijek, Croatia
- June 6, 2025: Gibraltar 0-7 Croatia, Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal
- March 23, 2025: France 2-0 Croatia, Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
- March 20, 2025: Croatia 2-0 France, Stadion Poljud, Split, Croatia
Group L standings
Croatia are in Group L at World Cup 2026.
Manager
Who is Croatia's manager?
Zlatko Dalic's Croatia career was almost over before it had begun. When he took charge in 2017, he was hired on the provision that if they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the football association would review his position.
As it was, they qualified, and then went on to reach the final of the World Cup, beating England in heartbreaking fashion in the semi-finals. He then carried them to the semi-finals in Qatar four years later, again being beaten only by the winners Argentina in the semi-finals.
His performances at the last two European Championships have left much to be desired, but maybe the Croatian FA are once again hoping for a bit of World Cup magic in North America.
Star player
Who is Croatia's star player?
This feels like it will be Luka Modric's last international tournament, yet we've been saying that for years and it never seems to come true.
The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner has been a fantastic servant to his country, taking them to back-to-back World Cup semi-finals, and leading them in their incredible run to the 2018 final.
He is ranked at no.29 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest players of all time and has enjoyed a stellar career, and when he retires will look back on his career with significant pride.
Best XI
