Captain Luka Modrić will be looking to lead his country to the latter stages of the tournament once again, having finished runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022.
Croatia consistently punch above their weight in international football, progressing to the semi-finals in half of their FIFA World Cup appearances to date.
They finished third on their debut at France 1998, then went all the way to the final at Russia 2018, where they lost to France, before another third-place finish at Qatar 2022.
Zlatko Dalić’s side comfortably topped their European qualifying group for the 2026 edition, winning seven and drawing one of their eight games, and will hope to make another big impact in North America.
Quick facts
- Captain: Luka Modrić
- Manager: Zlatko Dalić
- World Cup appearances (including 2026): 7
- Best World Cup result: Runners-up (2018)
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Croatia’s provisional squad
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (København), Ivor Pandur (Hull City), Karlo Letica (Lausanne-Sport)
Defenders: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Šutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanišić (Bayern München), Marin Pongračić (Fiorentina), Martin Erlić (Midtjylland), Luka Vušković (Hamburger SV), Ivan Smolčić (Como)
Midfielders: Luka Modrić (Milan), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (Torino), Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakić (Augsburg), Petar Sučić (Internazionale), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Adrian Segečić (Portsmouth), Luka Stojković (Dinamo Zagreb)
Forwards: Ivan Perišić (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna),
Marco Pašalić (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanović (Freiburg), Franjo Ivanović (Benfica), Dion Drena Beljo (Dinamo Zagreb)