Croatia at the 2026 Cup: Roster, Predictions and Statistics
The Croatian national team is embarking on a long journey to North America to prove that their cup-winning character and ability to snatch medals against the odds have not disappeared. The Checkered Ones have accustomed the world to surprises, taking silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.
Now, with the official confirmation that this World Cup will be the last in the great Luka Modric's career, the Croatian frigate is ready for their captain's last dance. Bookmakers do not have much faith in Croatian leadership within Group L, giving a clear advantage to England. Let's examine whether the Balkans can rewrite history again and study the team's final roster.
In short:
- Croatia is one of the most effective teams in World Cup history: with only six appearances after gaining independence, the team has made it to the top-3 three times (bronze in 1998 and 2022, silver in 2018).
- Luka Modric is heading to his fifth and definitely final World Cup. The 40-year-old captain announced that he will retire from professional football after the tournament. For the 2026 World Cup, he will wear a special mask after fracturing his cheekbone.
- As expected, Zlatko Dalic's squad includes Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic. The main surprise was the non-call-up of Lovro Majer – the midfielder is only on the reserve list.
- The Croats will play against England, Ghana, and Panama. Analysts estimate their chances of advancing to the playoffs at a solid 80%, although their chances of winning the group are more modest – about 22%.
- In the group stage of the World Cup, Croatia will play against England, Ghana, and Panama.
Croatia's squad for the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Fenerbahce), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull City).
Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Dujé Caleta-Car (Lyon), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayern), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Luka Vuskovic (Tottenham).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Petar Sucic (Inter), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Orlando City).
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marko Pasalic (Rijeka), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg).
Head coach: Zlatko Dalic
Main Star
Luka Modric. The eternal captain, heart of the team, and winner of the 2018 Ballon d'Or, beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modric is an absolute national record holder: he has 196 matches for Croatia, 28 goals, and 31 assists. This tournament has a sacred meaning for Luka - it was officially confirmed before the start of the World Cup that he will retire immediately after the tournament. The motivation to put a beautiful and bold end to a bright story will be immense. For Croatia, Modric remains irreplaceable as a mental leader and the main conductor of the game.
Main Problem of Croatia
The generational change in attack has been delayed. After the departure of Mario Mandzukic, the Croats have not found a top-class forward. Yes, Ante Budimir is having decent seasons in Spain, and Andrej Kramaric is always ready to score an important goal due to his experience. However, neither of them scares top defenders at the level of the late World Cup playoffs. The Croats will again have to rely on sterile ball control in the midfield and individual breakthroughs of wing players, as Dalic simply does not have a striker capable of deciding an episode on his own.
Young Talents
Martin Baturina is a 23-year-old midfielder from Como, who is called the "new Modric" at home. The guy has excellent field vision, dribbling, and a superb pass. This World Cup is the perfect showcase for him to reveal his potential.
Another unsung hero is Luka Vuskovic. A 19-year-old wonderkid among defenders. Zlatko Dalic was long in doubt whether to take so many center-backs, but Vuskovic's progress forced the coach to include the young man in the final list. His physical data and maturity for his age could make him the main discovery in Croatia's defense.
Who Will Miss the 2026 World Cup
Zlatko Dalic's decisions surprised experts. The main shock is the absence of Lovro Majer in the squad. Wolfsburg's midfielder could not withstand the fierce competition in the center of the field and remained only on the waiting list. Also, forward Dion Drena Beljo, defender Ivan Smolcic, and goalkeeper Karlo Letica missed the squad. Dalic emphasized that he selected players based solely on their current form at the end of the club season, so there was no room for past merits.
Croatia National Team Form
Qualification
Croatia went through the European qualifiers in their signature style: pragmatically, confidently, and without unnecessary noise. Dalic's team bet on reliability from behind – Josko Gvardiol cemented the defense, Dominik Livakovic let in a minimum of goals (on average 0.5 per game), providing the Croats with a direct ticket to North America from the first place in the group. Among the most prestigious victories is the success over the Czech Republic (5:1).
Recent Results
In the spring friendly matches, the Checkers showed ambiguous results, actively testing the nearest reserve. If at the end of March the Croats managed to squeeze Colombia (2:1), then already at the beginning of April, Dalic's team lost to the Brazilian national team (1:3). These games highlighted the main problem: Dalic's pragmatic football fails against top opponents, and Croatia's positional attack still finds it hard to break through organized defense.
Preparation for the World Cup
The Croats will gather for the final training camp in Rijeka. Before flying across the ocean, the team will play two high-profile friendly matches: on June 2, they will play against Belgium, and on June 7, they will warm up in the Balkan derby against Slovenia.
Schedule of Croatia National Team Matches at the 2026 World Cup
Date (start time - CET) | Opponent | Stadium | Odds for Croatia's victory |
June 17, 22:00 | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX, USA) | 4.85* | |
June 24, 02:00 | BMO Field (Toronto, Canada) | 1.51* | |
June 28, 00:00 | Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA, USA) | 1.69* |
Croatia's chances of advancing from the group
Bookmakers are almost certain that Croatia will make it to the playoffs, estimating the probability of advancing from the group at a solid 80%. However, in the battle for the top spot, the Croats are clear underdogs compared to England: the odds for Dalic's boys to win in Group L are high at 4.50.
Bookmaker's odds for the Croatian national team at the 2026 World Cup
| Bet | Odds |
| Advance from the group | 1.25 |
| Take 1st place in the group | 4.50 |
| Take 1-2 place in the group | 1.35 |
| Win the World Cup | 80.00 |
| Reach the final | 30.00 |
| Reach the semi-final | 12.00 |
| Reach the quarterfinals | 5.50 |
| Reach the round of 16 | 2.50 |
| Luka Modric to be the best player of the tournament | 100.00 |
Why Croatia may not win the World Cup
Firstly, the age of the leaders. Modric is 40, Perisic is 37, Kramaric is 34. They might perform well in a short distance or in one specific match, but it will be incredibly hard for this layer of veterans to withstand the intense marathon of the 2026 World Cup in the conditions of heavy flights and harsh climate of North America.
Secondly, dependency on injuries. Dalic's squad is not as deep as France's or England's. Modric with a broken cheekbone or Guardiol just recovering from an injury is a huge risk. If any of the key players get injured during the tournament, there simply won't be an adequate replacement on the bench.
Scores24's prediction for the Croatian national team
Opening matchThe match against England will be decisive for the ambitions of the Checkers. However, Croatia is no stranger to playing the underdog role in big matches. The emotional atmosphere surrounding the end of Modric's career should unite the locker room, and the pragmatism of Zlatko Dalic will help cynically take what's theirs from weaker group opponents.
The option of Croatia scoring over 4.5 points in total looks valuable at 1.85*. To achieve this, the Croats need to beat Panama and Ghana (which they should do due to the class difference), or win one match and draw twice. Croatia is known for its ability to collect points where necessary, and five qualifying points in the group stage is absolutely within their reach.
Additional choice: Croatia's individual goal total over 4.5 at 2.30*. Bookmakers offer a fantastic odds on the Croats scoring at least five goals in three group matches. Panama and Ghana have huge problems defending set pieces and positional attacks. Croatia, led by Modric in his farewell tournament, is capable of scoring 3-4 goals against clear underdogs, making this odds a gift.
More predictions for all 2026 World Cup matches will be available in the tournament section starting from June 9.
*Odds are approximate, may vary in different bookmakers and are current at the time of publication
If you are interested in detailed analyses of the chances of the top national teams at the 2026 World Cup, you can also read the following articles:
FAQ
Who is the coach of the Croatian national football team?
Zlatko Dalic. The irreplaceable helmsman of the team since 2017, who has led the country to all the major medals in modern history.
Who is the captain of the Croatian national team?
Luka Modric. A living legend of world football, who has officially announced that he will end his career immediately after the 2026 World Cup.
How many times has Croatia won the World Cup?
Croatia has never won a tournament. The main achievement is the silver medals at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and two bronzes (1998, 2022).
Who will Croatia play against in the 2026 World Cup?
In Group L, the Croatian team will face off against the national teams of England, Panama, and Ghana.
How many times has Croatia won the World Cup?
Croatia has never won gold. The team's major achievements in history include: silver (2018) and two bronzes (1998, 2022).
What are the odds for Croatia to advance from the group stage?
Analysts are offering odds of 1.25 for Croatia to advance to the round of 16 in the playoffs. The odds for Croatia to finish first in Group L are set at 4.50.
