Luka Modric’s fifth FIFA World Cup awaits Croatia this summer, a 40-year-old captain still driving the Vatreni’s golden era.
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner holds the country’s caps record at 196. Two more appearances at the tournament would take him past the magical 200 mark. Croatia have reached the semi-finals in three of their seven World Cup appearances since 1998. The runners-up finish at Russia 2018 remains their crowning achievement. Third place followed at Qatar 2022, matching their debut feat from France 1998.
Croatia: 2026 World Cup Squad, Fixtures and Schedule
Zlatko Dalic announced his 26-man squad on Monday, 18 May, with seven additional standby players also named. The Vatreni qualified in dominant fashion. They topped their UEFA group ahead of Czechia, the Faroe Islands, Montenegro and Gibraltar.
Seven wins from eight matches yielded 26 goals scored and just four conceded. Their only dropped points came in a goalless draw away to Czechia. Croatia sealed qualification on 14 November with a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands.
The @FIFAWorldCup calls. #Croatia will rise to the occasion. 🌎#HrabarBroj #WorldCup #Family #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/Nzj7NrcvqE
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 1, 2026
Modric now plays at AC Milan after a glittering chapter at Real Madrid. Joško Gvardiol returns to anchor the defence after recovering from a broken shin. His Manchester City team-mate Mateo Kovacic also overcame injury to make the squad.
Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric and goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic add veteran weight. Inter’s Petar Sucic, Real Sociedad’s Luka Sucic and Como’s Martin Baturina represent the next generation. Teenage defender Luka Vuskovic, owned by Tottenham but on loan at Hamburg, is among the squad’s most exciting prospects.
Group L pits Croatia against England, Panama and Ghana. The opener against Thomas Tuchel’s England in Arlington carries the heaviest weight.
Croatia 2026 World Cup fixtures
- Wednesday, June 17th – England vs Croatia – Arlington, USA
- Wednesday, June 24th – Panama vs Croatia – Toronto, Canada
- Saturday, June 27th – Croatia vs Ghana – Philadelphia, USA
What time do Croatia’s World Cup games kick off?
All kick-off times are BST.
- England vs Croatia, 9pm
- Panama vs Croatia, 12am
- Croatia vs Ghana, 10pm
Croatia 2026 FIFA World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull City).
Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Sutalo (Ajax Amsterdam), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (AC Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Petar Sucic (Inter Milan), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg).
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