Croatia
FIFA World Cup 2026 Team Profile
Zlatko Dalić
Head Coach
4-3-3
Formation
0
Titles
7
Appearances
Overview
Croatia arrive at the World Cup as defending bronze medalists and with a settled squad that has reached the latter stages at the last two tournaments. The Blazers will be aiming for one more deep run with Luka Modrić likely making his final World Cup appearance.
Road to World Cup 2026
Croatia qualified comfortably via the UEFA playoffs, finishing top of their qualification group.
Qualification: Tournament qualification
Key Players to Watch
- Luka Modrić
- Mateo Kovačić
- Josko Gvardiol
- Andrej Kramarić
Strengths
Midfield quality, tournament experience, and a settled spine. Modrić remains one of the most influential players in the world.
Weaknesses
Striker depth and ageing squad in several positions. The team is in a clear transition phase.
World Cup 2026 Chances
Reaching the quarter-finals is realistic. A semi-final appearance would match the 1998 achievement.
Historical World Cup Performance
Six prior appearances, with a final appearance in 2018 and a third-place finish in 2022. The 1998 third-place finish was the previous high.
Best result: Runners-up (2018)
Last World Cup: Third place (2022)
Match Schedule
England vs Croatia
Panama vs Croatia
Croatia vs Ghana