Zlatko Dalić leads Croatia at a third straight World Cup, after finishing runner-up in 2018 and third in 2022.
Croatia
UEFA · 7th World Cup appearance · Group L
Featured facts
Messi is the World Cup's all time assist leader with 9. He is followed by James, Cuadrado (Colombia), Perisic (Croatia) and Griezman (France). Only the latter is not present in 2026 to increase his tally.
Modric will be back playing this fifth World Cup. Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi appeared on more. Ochoa (Mexico) is also present for his sixth World CUp but did not play at all.
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Gvardiol and Livakovic are the two Croatian players that did not miss a minute on the pitch at the 2022 World Cup. They are all back with the team in 2026.
Croatia have failed to score in 3 of their last 5 World Cup matches.
2026 Fixtures
World Cup record
7
World Cup appearances
Best result: Runners-up
34
matches played
15 won · 8 drawn · 11 lost
+9
goal difference
49 scored · 40 conceded
Recent World Cups
2022Third place play-offW2 D4 L1→2018Runners-upW4 D2 L1→2014Group stageW1 D0 L2→
Show 3 earlier appearancesHide earlier appearances↓
All-time top scorers
1Ivan Perišić20267goals
2Davor Suker6goals
3Mario Mandžukić5goals
4Andrej Kramarić20263goals
5Robert Prosinecki2goals
6Ivica Olic2goals
7Luka Modric20262goals
8Petar Sučić20261goal
9Nikola Vlašić20261goal
10Ante Budimir20261goal
Team profile
Croatia's best World Cup finish is runners-up, reached in 2018.
Croatia have an average squad age of 27.9 at the 2026 World Cup.
2026 Squad
| # | Name | Birthdate (Age) | Club | WC Apps | WC Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dominik LivakovićG | 9 Jan 1995(31) | Dinamo Zagreb | 11 | 0 |
| 2 | Josip StanišićD | 2 Apr 2000(26) | Bayern Munich | 5 | 0 |
| 3 | Marin PongračićD | 11 Sept 1997(28) | Fiorentina | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Joško GvardiolD | 23 Jan 2002(24) | Manchester City | 11 | 1 |
| 5 | Duje Ćaleta-CarD | 17 Sept 1996(29) | Real Sociedad | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Josip ŠutaloD | 28 Feb 2000(26) | Ajax | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | Nikola MoroM | 12 Mar 1998(28) | Bologna | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Mateo KovačićM | 6 May 1994(32) | Manchester City | 19 | 0 |
| 9 | Andrej KramarićF | 19 Jun 1991(35) | TSG Hoffenheim | 17 | 3 |
| 10 | Luka ModricM | 9 Sept 1985(40) | Milan | 23 | 2 |
| 11 | Ante BudimirF | 22 Jul 1991(35) | Osasuna | 5 | 1 |
| 12 | Ivor PandurG | 25 Mar 2000(26) | Hull City | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nikola VlašićM | 4 Oct 1997(28) | Torino | 9 | 1 |
| 14 | Ivan PerišićF | 2 Feb 1989(37) | PSV Eindhoven | 21 | 7 |
| 15 | Mario PašalićM | 9 Feb 1995(31) | Atalanta | 11 | 0 |
| 16 | Martin BaturinaM | 16 Feb 2003(23) | Como | 4 | 1 |
| 17 | Petar SučićM | 25 Oct 2003(22) | Inter Milan | 4 | 1 |
| 18 | Kristijan JakićD | 14 May 1997(29) | FC Augsburg | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | Toni FrukM | 9 Mar 2001(25) | Rijeka | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Igor MatanovićF | 31 Mar 2003(23) | SC Freiburg | 3 | 0 |
| 21 | Luka SučićM | 8 Sept 2002(23) | Real Sociedad | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Luka VuškovićD | 24 Feb 2007(19) | Hamburger SV | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Dominik KotarskiG | 10 Feb 2000(26) | Copenhagen | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Marco PašalićF | 14 Sept 2000(25) | Orlando City SC | 4 | 0 |
| 25 | Martin ErlićD | 24 Jan 1998(28) | Midtjylland | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Petar MusaF | 4 Mar 1998(28) | FC Dallas | 2 | 1 |