The Croatia World Cup 2026 squad is starting to come together.
They qualified relatively easily for World Cup 2026, winning all but one of their Group L games, with just one draw against Czech Republic.
It's not one of the strongest squads at the tournament on paper, but they came third and second in the last two editions, so they're likely to rank high in the favourites list.
This World Cup, from a Croatian perspective, is likely to be all about Luka Modric, with the 40-year-old unlikely to enter another tournament after this one.
But he's not the only wise, experienced head in the squad, with the likes of Ivan Perisic (37) and Andrej Kramaric (34) both still key components of the side and part of this March camp.
Josko Gvardiol is one of the more exciting younger names in the squad, ranked at no.2 in FourFourTwo's list of the best left-backs in the world right now, but he's currently injured and so is not with the team this time.
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who was their penalty hero in 2022 is still involved and is now playing his football for Dinamo Zagreb, on loan from Fenerbahce.
Squad
Croatia World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
- GK: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb)
- GK: Karlo Letica (Lausanne-Sport)
- GK: Ivor Pandur (Hull 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)
- DF: Ivan Smolcic (Como)
- MF: Luka Modric (Milan)
- MF: Mario Pasalic (Atalanta)
- MF: Nikola Vlasic (Torino)
- MF: Lovro Majer (VfL Wolfsburg)
- MF: Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad)
- MF: Kristijan Jakic (FC Augsburg)
- MF: Martin Baturina (Como)
- 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
- March 26, 2026: Colombia vs Croatia, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, United States
- March 31, 2026: Croatia vs Brazil, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, United States
- 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
- 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
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.
