- Home >
- Soccer >
- FIFA World Cup >
- 2026 FIFA World Cup: Croatia – squad, key players and everything you need to know
2026 FIFA World Cup: Croatia – squad, key players and everything you need to know
The Croatian national team comes from two very good performances in consecutive World Cups, finishing as runners-up in 2018 and taking third place in 2022.
The Croatian national team has experienced several memorable World Cup moments, from their surprising emergence in 1998 to the extended campaigns of recent tournaments, including the 2018 final and their consistent presence in the decisive stages. Although it does not always have the same depth of squad as the major powers, its competitive character, tactical cohesion, and the quality of its players have made it a respected rival in every World Cup.
Now, with that recent experience, the team will seek to continue growing and take advantage of the international exposure it has accumulated in recent editions. The team aims to transform those performances into a starting point to establish itself on the global stage and demonstrate that its football project can make the definitive leap into the elite.
🛣️ Road to the World Cup 202
Croatia qualified for the 2026 World Cup as the top team in Group L in the UEFA qualifiers, accumulating 22 points and securing one of the 16 European spots; this is not the first time they have made it thru the qualifiers, as they are reaching their seventh participation in a World Cup after a successful cycle that included a third place in 2022 and a final in 2018, results that confirm the continuity and significance of the project led by Zlatko Dalić.
📊Quick Facts
- Confederation: UEFA
- Ranking FIFA (april 2026): 11.º puesto
- World Cup participations: 6 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022)
- Best result: Runners-up
📜 History in the World Cup
Croatia made its World Cup debut in 1998, where it surprised everyone by reaching third place, and since then it has been a prominent presence: runner-up in 2018, third place in 2022, and with qualification for 2026, it adds its seventh participation, consolidating a remarkable history for a country with a small population.
📋 Line-up
🌟 Players to follow
- Luka Modrić, game control and creation; leader and brain of the team.
- Joško Gvardiol, defensive solidity and clean build-up from the back; key in transitions.
- Dominik Livaković, decisive saves and security in penalties; a factor in tight matches
🧩 Key team factors
- Strength: midfield dominance and creativity led by veteran figures; tactical solidity, experience in late stages, and the ability to control the match tempo.
- Weakness: reliance on veteran players and physical wear over long cycles; occasional lack of depth in the attack against very physical opponents.
- Style of play: favors possession and build-up from midfield, with quick transitions into space and an emphasis on collective cohesion and tactical reading to compete at the highest level.
📅 World Cup Matches
Group L
🎯 World Cup goal
To go as far as possible, with a realistic goal of getting past the group stage and aiming for the quarterfinals or semifinals, relying on the experience of its squad and the work of Zlatko Dalić.
