Croatia comes off back-to-back World Cup semifinal trips as midfield standout Luka Modrić makes what might be his last run.
Since qualifying for the 1998 tournament, Croatia boasts an appearance in the final and two other runs to the semifinals and comes to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the No. 11 spot in FIFA’s most recent world rankings. Manager Zkatko Dalić returns for his third World Cup after a second place finish in Russia in 2018 and a third place nod in Qatar in 2022. Dalić owns a 54-26-25 record as Croatia’s leader and the Vatreni come off a win over Colombia and a loss to Brazil during the March international window. Drawn into Group L, Croatia competes with No. 4 England, No. 30 Panama and No. 72 Ghana for a spot in the new Round of 32 in the expanded 48-team event.
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Croatia World Cup Schedule, TV Channel
For the entire World Cup schedule, check out our 2026 FIFA World Cup Preview.
Pre-World Cup Friendlies
Tuesday, June 2, 2026: vs. Belgium at Stadion HNK Rijeka (Rijeka, Croatia), 12 p.m. ET
Sunday, June 7, 2026: vs. Slovenia at Stadion Andjelko Herjavec (Varazdin, Croatia), 2:45 p.m. ET
Group Stage
Wednesday, June 17, 2026: vs. England at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 4 p.m. ET (FOX)
Tuesday, June 23, 2026: vs. Panama at BMO Field, Toronto, 7 p.m. ET (FOX)
Saturday, June 27, 2026: vs. Ghana at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, 5 p.m. ET (FOX Sports 1)
Knockout Stage*
Round of 32: June 28-July 3, 2026
Round of 16: July 4-7, 2026
Quarterfinals: July 9-11, 2026
Semifinals: July 14-15, 2026
Third-place match: July 18, 2026
Final: Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 3 p.m. ET (FOX)
*–Croatia must qualify to advance to the knockout stage as either one of the top two finishers in Group L or as one of eight third-place teams from the group stage to advance.
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Croatia World Cup Roster
Dalić received a scare on April 26 when star midfielder and team captain Luka Modrić left with a broken cheekbone while playing for AC Milan against Juventus in Italy’s Serie A. But while Croatia’s all-time leader with 196 caps won’t play for AC Milan the rest of the season, Modrić appears on target to be ready for the World Cup. Final rosters are due to FIFA by May 30.
The roster listed below is as of the March friendlies, with the official roster coming out in late May.
Forwards
Ante Budimir, 34 (Osasuna, Spanish La Liga)
Andrej Kramarić, 34 (TSG Hoffenheim, German Bundesliga)
Igor Matanović, 23 (SC Freiburg, German Bundesliga)
Petar Musa, 28 (FC Dallas, MLS)
Marco Pašalić, 25 (Orlando City, MLS)
Ivan Perišić, 37 (PSV Eindhoven, Dutch Eredivisie)
Kramarić appears ticketed to start at the striker spot and is a reliable goal scorer, while veteran Perišić mans the right wing with Mislav Oršić, 33, from Pafos in Cyprus’ First Division set to go on the left. Bruno Petković, 31, of Turkish Süper Lig side Kocaelispor, is a physical striker option as well. Luka Ivanušec, 27, from PAOK in Super League Greece is a depth option.
Midfield
Martin Baturina, 23 (Como, Italian Serie A)
Toni Fruk, 25 (Rijeka, Croatian Football League)
Kristijan Jakić, 28 (FC Augsburg, German Bundesliga)
Lovro Majer, 28 (VfL Wolfsburg, German Bundesliga)
Luka Modrić, 40 (AC Milan, Italian Serie A)
Nikola Moro, 28 (Bologna, Italian Serie A)
Mario Pašalić, 31 (Atalanta, Italian Serie A)
Luka Sučić, 23 (Real Sociedad, Spanish La Liga)
Petar Sučić, 22 (Inter Milan, Italian Serie A)
Nikola Vlašić, 28 (Torino, Italian Serie A)
Modrić remains the heartbeat of Croatian soccer and is central to the team’s system of central control, prioritizing ball retention and regulation of tempo. Luka Sučić looms as a rising talent and potentially the heir apparent to Modrić, with 32-year-old Mateo Kovačić from Manchester City in the Premier League the third starter in the midfield, providing dynamic ball carrying and stability. Pašalić and Vlašić excel in attacking from the middle of the pitch, as does Majer.
Defenders
Duje Ćaleta-Car, 29 (Real Sociedad, Spanish La Liga)
Martin Erlić, 28 (Midtjylland, Danish Superliga)
Marin Pongračić, 28 (Fiorentina, Italian Serie A)
Ivan Smolčić, 25 (Como, Italian Serie A)
Josip Stanišić, 26 (Bayern Munich, German Bundesliga)
Josip Šutalo, 26 (Ajax, Dutch Eredivisie)
Luka Vušković, 19 (Hamburger SV, German Bundesliga)
Šutalo mans one of the center-back spots while projected starter Joško Gvardiol, 23, from Manchester City in the Premier League remains in doubt for the World Cup after fracturing his right tibia in January. Stanišić appears locked in at right-back with Ćaleta-Car holding down the left-back slot. Gvardiol’s potential absence looms large as he serves as the defensive anchor and leader playing the ball. Depth options include Erlić, who could play in Gvardiol’s stead, along with Borna Sosa, a 28-year-old with Premier League side Crystal Palace and Josip Juranović, 30, of Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.
Goalkeepers
Karlo Letica, 29 (Lausanne-Sport, Swiss Super League)
Dominik Livaković, 31 (Dinamo Zagreb, Croatian Football League)
Ivor Pandur, 26 (Hull City, English Championship)
Livaković stands as Croatia’s clear No. 1 between the sticks with 73 caps with a proven track record in high-pressure competition. Pandur and Letica are unproven depth options who have yet to play for the national team.
Croatia World Cup History
It’s been boom or bust for Croatia in its first six World Cup appearances, with its runner-up finish in Russia in 2018 and a pair of third place runs in 1998 and 2022 grouped with group stage exits in 2002, 2006 and 2014.
The Vatreni own an all-time record of 13-8-9 in World Cup play, including a 6-6-2 mark over the last two tournaments.