Croatia announced its 26-player squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, May 18, 2026. Zlatko Dalić named Luka Modrić to captain the side at his sixth World Cup, a record that puts the 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the first male footballers to play in six World Cups. Josko Gvardiol returns after recovering from a broken shin. Croatia opens Group L against England on June 17 in Arlington, Texas.
The squad features four players with more than 100 international caps (Modrić, Ivan Perišić, Mateo Kovačić, Andrej Kramarić), three goalkeepers, and a mix of veterans from the 2018 final and emerging talents. Dalić also named seven standby players who can be promoted before FIFA’s June 1 deadline.
This is your full Croatia squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Croatia 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Dominik Livaković | Dinamo Zagreb | 31 |
| GK | Dominik Kotarski | FC Copenhagen | 25 |
| GK | Ivor Pandur | Hull City | 25 |
| DF | Joško Gvardiol | Manchester City | 24 |
| DF | Duje Ćaleta-Car | Real Sociedad | 29 |
| DF | Josip Šutalo | Ajax | 26 |
| DF | Josip Stanišić | Bayern Munich | 26 |
| DF | Marin Pongračić | Fiorentina | 28 |
| DF | Martin Erlić | Midtjylland | 28 |
| DF | Luka Vušković | HSV | 19 |
| MF | Luka Modrić (C) | AC Milan | 40 |
| MF | Mateo Kovačić | Manchester City | 32 |
| MF | Mario Pašalić | Atalanta | 31 |
| MF | Nikola Vlašić | Torino | 28 |
| MF | Luka Sučić | Real Sociedad | 23 |
| MF | Martin Baturina | Como | 23 |
| MF | Kristijan Jakić | Augsburg | 28 |
| MF | Petar Sučić | Inter Milan | 22 |
| MF | Nikola Moro | Bologna | 27 |
| MF | Toni Fruk | Rijeka | 24 |
| FW | Ivan Perišić | PSV Eindhoven | 37 |
| FW | Andrej Kramarić | Hoffenheim | 34 |
| FW | Ante Budimir | Osasuna | 34 |
| FW | Marco Pašalić | Orlando City | 25 |
| FW | Petar Musa | FC Dallas | 28 |
| FW | Igor Matanović | Freiburg | 22 |
(C) = captain. Ages and clubs as confirmed on May 18, 2026.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here are the key numbers in Zlatko Dalić’s final 26.
- Captain: Luka Modrić (40 years old, 196 caps, record holder)
- Players with 100+ caps: 4 (Modrić, Perišić, Kovačić, Kramarić)
- Most-capped player: Modrić (196 caps)
- Youngest player: Luka Vušković (19, HSV)
- Oldest player: Modrić (40)
- MLS players: 2 (Marco Pašalić at Orlando City, Petar Musa at FC Dallas)
- Premier League players: 2 (Gvardiol at Manchester City, Kovačić at Manchester City)
- World Cup appearances: Croatia’s 7th, Modrić’s record 6th
Key Players to Watch
- Luka Modrić (AC Milan). Captain and the heartbeat of Croatia for nearly two decades. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner is set to become only the third male footballer to play in six World Cups, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He recently recovered from surgery for a fractured cheekbone in April and could earn his 200th cap during the tournament.
- Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City). Croatia’s premier defender, 24, returns after surgery on a fractured right shin suffered in January. He played for the first time in five months against Crystal Palace on May 14 and is fit for the tournament. Premier League and Champions League winner.
- Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City). Long-serving midfielder and one of four Croatian centurions. The 32-year-old links defense and attack and is critical to Dalić’s possession game.
- Ivan Perišić (PSV Eindhoven). Set for his fourth World Cup at 37. The veteran winger scored in the 2018 final and remains an option from the left, even at the back end of his career.
- Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim). Croatia’s top scorer in qualifying with six goals. The 34-year-old veteran is expected to lead the line in big moments.
- Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad). At 23, the Real Sociedad midfielder represents the next generation alongside cousin Petar Sučić of Inter Milan. He gives Dalić a creative option in the engine room.
Croatia World Cup 2026 Schedule
Croatia plays all three group matches across two countries and three host cities.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (CET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, June 17 | England | AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 4:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Tuesday, June 23 | Panama | BMO Field (Toronto Stadium), Toronto | 7:00 PM | 1:00 AM (June 24) |
| Saturday, June 27 | Ghana | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
Croatia plays pre-World Cup friendlies against Belgium (June 2) and Slovenia (June 7) before departing for Washington on June 9. The team gathers in Rijeka on May 25 to begin its final tournament preparation.
How Croatia Qualified for World Cup 2026
Croatia qualified for the 2026 World Cup in dominant fashion. Dalić’s side topped UEFA Group L ahead of Czechia, the Faroe Islands, Montenegro, and Gibraltar. They won seven of eight matches, drawing only their away fixture in Czechia 0-0. Croatia scored 26 goals and conceded just four across the campaign.
Qualification was sealed on November 14, 2025, with a 3-1 home win over the Faroe Islands in Rijeka. Goals came from Joško Gvardiol, Petar Musa, and Nikola Vlašić. Striker Andrej Kramarić finished as Croatia’s top scorer in qualifying with six goals.
Head Coach: Zlatko Dalić
Zlatko Dalić has managed Croatia since October 2017 and is the most successful coach in the nation’s history. He led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, where they lost 4-2 to France, and to a third-place finish at Qatar 2022. The 2026 tournament is his third World Cup in charge.
Dalić typically deploys a 4-2-3-1 with Modrić as the deep-lying playmaker. His Croatia side is built around technical midfielders and is known for grinding out results in knockout matches, having reached at least the semi-finals in both of his prior World Cup campaigns.
Group L at a Glance
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 4 | 17 | Champions (1966) |
| Croatia | 11 | 7 | Runners-up (2018) |
| Ghana | 72 | 5 | Quarter-finals (2010) |
| Panama | 30 | 2 | Group stage (2018) |
Group L is widely considered one of the most balanced groups at the tournament. England open against Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 semi-final, which Croatia won 2-1 in extra time. Ghana return after missing the 2022 tournament, and Panama make their second World Cup appearance.
FAQ About Croatia World Cup Squad 2026
Who is Croatia’s captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Luka Modrić captains Croatia at the 2026 World Cup. The 40-year-old AC Milan midfielder holds the national team record with 196 international caps and is the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner.
Is Luka Modrić in Croatia’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Yes. Modrić is in the squad and will captain the side at his sixth World Cup, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only male footballers to play in six different World Cup tournaments. He could earn his 200th international cap during the competition.
Is Joško Gvardiol fit for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Gvardiol recovered from surgery on a fractured right shin suffered in January 2026 and returned to action for Manchester City against Crystal Palace on May 14. Dalić confirmed his selection on May 18.
Who is Croatia’s head coach for the 2026 World Cup?
Zlatko Dalić, the 59-year-old Croatian, manages Croatia. He has been in charge since October 2017 and led the team to the 2018 World Cup final and a third-place finish at Qatar 2022.
When does Croatia play its first World Cup 2026 match?
Croatia plays its first match on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, against England at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET (10:00 PM CET).
Which group is Croatia in at the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia is in Group L with England, Ghana, and Panama. The opening fixture against England is a rematch of the 2018 semi-final, which Croatia won 2-1 in extra time on the way to the final.
Has Croatia won the World Cup before?
No. Croatia’s best World Cup result is the 2018 final, where they lost 4-2 to France. They finished third at the 1998 tournament on their debut and third again at Qatar 2022.
How many players in the Croatia squad have over 100 international caps?
Four players: Luka Modrić (196 caps), Ivan Perišić, Mateo Kovačić, and Andrej Kramarić. This makes Croatia one of the most experienced squads at the 2026 World Cup.
Who was left out of Croatia’s 2026 World Cup squad?
The most notable omission was Dinamo Zagreb striker Dion Drena Beljo, despite scoring 38 goals in 47 appearances this season. Beljo was placed on the seven-man standby list. Dalić preferred Petar Musa of FC Dallas, who has 12 goals in 13 MLS matches.
Croatia’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
Croatia arrive in North America as the most consistent dark horse of the modern era. Dalić has guided this squad to a World Cup final and two semi-final-or-better finishes in the last two tournaments. The path is harder this time. Modrić is 40, Perišić is 37, and the dressing-room generation that delivered Russia and Qatar is winding down.
But Croatia’s strength has always been timing. Gvardiol is back. Kovačić is fit. The Sučić cousins give Dalić midfield options the 2022 squad lacked. If the veterans can hold up for one more month, the same gritty, possession-heavy formula that beat England in 2018 could carry Croatia deep into the bracket one final time.
