Zlatko Dalić’s Official Croatia Squad For The 2026 FIFA World Cup
Luka Modrić headlines Croatia’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in what could be the final tournament for the nation’s golden generation.
Croatia wants to compete among the world’s elite once again
The national team of Croatia officially confirmed the 26 players who will represent the country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where the Europeans will once again dream of another historic run after finishing runners-up at Russia 2018 and reaching the semifinals at Qatar 2022.
Head coach Zlatko Dalić will once again lead a squad that still features legendary names such as Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić, and Mateo Kovačić, while also beginning to introduce the young talents expected to define the future of Croatian football.
Croatia will share a group with England, Panama, and Ghana, opening its World Cup campaign on June 17 against England in one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage.
Croatia’s Official Squad For The 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers
Dominik Livaković — Dinamo Zagreb (HNL)
Dominik Kotarski — FC København (Danish Superliga)
Ivor Pandur — Hull City (Championship)
Defenders
Joško Gvardiol — Manchester City (Premier League)
Duje Ćaleta-Car — Real Sociedad (LaLiga)
Josip Šutalo — Ajax (Eredivisie)
Josip Stanišić — Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)
Marin Pongračić — Fiorentina (Serie A)
Martin Erlić — Midtjylland (Danish Superliga)
Luka Vušković — Hamburger SV (Bundesliga)
Midfielders
Luka Modrić — AC Milan (Serie A)
Mateo Kovačić — Manchester City (Premier League)
Mario Pašalić — Atalanta (Serie A)
Nikola Vlašić — Torino (Serie A)
Luka Sučić — Real Sociedad (LaLiga)
Martin Baturina — Como (Serie A)
Kristijan Jakić — Augsburg (Bundesliga)
Petar Sučić — Inter (Serie A)
Nikola Moro — Bologna (Serie A)
Toni Fruk — Rijeka (HNL)
Forwards
Ivan Perišić — PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)
Andrej Kramarić — Hoffenheim (Bundesliga)
Ante Budimir — Osasuna (LaLiga)
Marco Pašalić — Orlando City (MLS)
Petar Musa — FC Dallas (MLS)
Igor Matanović — Freiburg (Bundesliga)
Head Coach
Zlatko Dalić
Player To Watch
The biggest star of this Croatian squad remains Luka Modrić. At 40 years old, the legendary midfielder will likely play the final World Cup of his career and hopes to close Croatia’s golden era with one more unforgettable performance on football’s biggest stage.
The current AC Milan player recently recovered from a facial fracture and will follow a special preparation plan created between the Italian club and Croatia’s medical staff in order to arrive at the tournament in peak physical condition.
Luka Vušković represents Croatia’s future
One of the biggest surprises in the squad is the inclusion of defender Luka Vušković, born in 2007 and considered one of the brightest young talents in European football.
The Hamburger SV center-back, currently owned by Tottenham, has only four senior international appearances, but Zlatko Dalić decided to include him directly in the final squad, making him one of the youngest players at the entire 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Kovačić and Gvardiol arrive with fitness concerns
Croatia will also closely monitor the physical condition of two crucial players: Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol.
The Manchester City midfielder missed most of the season due to Achilles tendon problems, while Gvardiol recently recovered from a fractured tibia that seriously threatened his participation at the World Cup. Even so, Zlatko Dalić fully trusted both players and included them in the final roster.
Everything you need to now about Croatia National Team
Croatia dreams of another historic World Cup run
Although time is beginning to catch up with the greatest generation in Croatian football history, the Balkan nation once again enters the World Cup with a dangerous mix of experience, talent, and competitive mentality.
With legendary leaders like Modrić and several rising stars developing across Europe, Croatia will once again attempt to prove that it never needs to be considered a favorite to compete with the world’s best national teams.
