CroatiaTeam·Croatia has named their 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026Competition·FIFA World Cup 2026, with Zlatko DalićCoach·Zlatko Dalić selecting a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent for their fourth consecutive tournament appearance.
Luka Modrić, now 40 and playing for AC MilanTeam·AC Milan, will captain CroatiaTeam·Croatia in what is expected to be his fifth World Cup. The veteran midfielder leads a squad that includes fellow stalwart Ivan PerišićPlayer·Ivan Perišić, who at 37 is set for his fourth World Cup appearance with PSV EindhovenTeam·PSV Eindhoven.
The squad announcement comes after CroatiaTeam·Croatia topped their European qualifying group with an impressive record of seven wins and one draw in eight games, finishing with 22 points ahead of the Czech Republic. Andrej Kramarić led their qualifying campaign with six goals.
Dalić has expressed concerns about the match sharpness of several key players, particularly Modrić, Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's Mateo KovačićPlayer·Mateo Kovačić, and defender Joško Gvardiol, noting they have not played regularly in recent months. Gvardiol faced a race against time to be fit after undergoing shinbone surgery in January.
The squad features a strong Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City contingent with Kovačić and Gvardiol both recovering from injuries. Young talents also feature prominently, including 19-year-old defender Luka Vušković from Hamburger SV, who is owned by Tottenham, alongside midfielders Martin BaturinaPlayer·Martin Baturina from Como and Petar Sučić from Inter Milan.
CroatiaTeam·Croatia faces a challenging Group L draw, opening against EnglandTeam·England on June 17 in Arlington, Texas, before facing Panama in Toronto on June 23 and concluding the group stage against GhanaTeam·Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27.
Dalić acknowledged the difficulty of their opening fixture, stating the first match against EnglandTeam·England could be crucial to their tournament hopes. CroatiaTeam·Croatia's recent form shows three wins in their last five matches, including a 2-1 victory over Slovenia in their final friendly preparation.
The squad reflects CroatiaTeam·Croatia's transition between generations while maintaining their competitive edge that has seen them reach the semi-finals in half of their World Cup appearances since 1998, including their runner-up finish in 2018 and third-place finish in 2022.
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, CroatiaTeam·Croatia will look to advance from a group where the top two teams progress automatically to the round of 32, with potential for third-place qualification depending on results across other groups.
Luka Modrić and Luka Vušković challenge Jeremy Doku during a Croatia vs Belgium friendly. Photo News/IMAGO
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