Croatia arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as serial overachievers. The small nation of four million has reached the final in 2018 and the third-place play-off in 2022, and under Zlatko Dalić they carry the same competitive identity: disciplined, experienced, and devastatingly effective in knockout football. This squad still features Luka Modrić — now at his fifth World Cup — alongside Mateo Kovačić, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić, while a generation of younger players including Joško Gvardiol, Luka Sučić and Martin Baturina are ready to shoulder more of the load.
Group L: Croatia · England · [Group opponents TBC] Opening match: Croatia vs England — 17 June 2026, Dallas Stadium
Full Squad
| Player | Position | Club | Previous World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominik Livaković | Goalkeeper | Dinamo Zagreb | 2 |
| Dominik Kotarski | Goalkeeper | Copenhagen | 0 |
| Ivor Pandur | Goalkeeper | Hull | 0 |
| Joško Gvardiol | Defender | Manchester City | 1 |
| Duje Ćaleta-Car | Defender | Real Sociedad | 2 |
| Josip Šutalo | Defender | Ajax | 1 |
| Josip Stanišić | Defender | Bayern Munich | 1 |
| Marin Pongračić | Defender | Fiorentina | 0 |
| Martin Erlić | Defender | Midtjylland | 0 |
| Luka Vušković | Defender | Hamburg | 0 |
| Luka Modrić | Midfielder | AC Milan | 4 |
| Mateo Kovačić | Midfielder | Manchester City | 3 |
| Mario Pašalić | Midfielder | Atalanta | 1 |
| Nikola Vlašić | Midfielder | Torino | 2 |
| Luka Sučić | Midfielder | Real Sociedad | 0 |
| Martin Baturina | Midfielder | Como | 0 |
| Kristijan Jakić | Midfielder | Augsburg | 0 |
| Petar Sučić | Midfielder | Inter Milan | 0 |
| Nikola Moro | Midfielder | Bologna | 0 |
| Toni Fruk | Midfielder | Rijeka | 0 |
| Ivan Perišić | Forward | PSV Eindhoven | 3 |
| Andrej Kramarić | Forward | Hoffenheim | 3 |
| Ante Budimir | Forward | Osasuna | 1 |
| Marco Pašalić | Forward | Orlando City | 0 |
| Petar Musa | Forward | Dallas | 0 |
| Igor Matanović | Forward | Freiburg | 0 |
Key Players to Watch
Luka Modrić at his fifth World Cup remains one of the most compelling stories in world football. The AC Milan midfielder, a Ballon d'Or winner and the architect of Croatia's 2018 final run, plays with a timeless elegance and competitive fire that defies age. At 41, he could be the oldest outfield player at the tournament — and one of its best.
Joško Gvardiol has become one of the elite left-sided centre-backs in the world since his Manchester City move. Athletic, composed and devastating on the ball, he will be one of the most scrutinised defenders at this tournament and is the cornerstone of Croatia's defensive future.
Mateo Kovačić brings the same Manchester City pressing intelligence and technical quality to the Croatian midfield that he shows at club level. The partnership of Modrić and Kovačić in central midfield is one of the most experienced and effective in international football.
Luka Sučić is the next generation. The Real Sociedad midfielder has the technical quality, vision and timing to eventually fill Modrić's creative role — and in this tournament he may begin to do so.
Group Stage Outlook
Croatia vs England is one of the most anticipated group-stage matchups of the tournament — a rematch of their 2018 semi-final, which Croatia won in extra time. England will carry the expectation, Croatia the experience.
Dalić's side are built to frustrate and absorb, then attack with precision on the counter. Their squad depth in midfield is extraordinary, their goalkeeper Livaković is a penalty shootout specialist, and they have the tournament pedigree that newer teams simply cannot manufacture.
Squad Profile
This is Croatia's most experienced World Cup squad ever, with Modrić, Kovačić, Perišić and Kramarić all at three or four tournaments. The balance between veterans and genuine young talent — Gvardiol, Sučić, Baturina — makes this the perfect handover squad for Croatian football.
FAQ
Who manages Croatia at the 2026 World Cup?
Zlatko Dalić, who led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 third-place play-off in Qatar.
How many World Cups has Luka Modrić played in?
The 2026 tournament is Luka Modrić's fifth FIFA World Cup, having appeared at 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
Who are Croatia's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Luka Modrić, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić, Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić are the headline names.
When do Croatia play their first game at the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia open Group L against England on 17 June 2026 at Dallas Stadium.