Croatia arrive at the 2026 World Cup in North America carrying the weight of a golden generation’s final chapter.
With England vs Croatia odds making Zlatko Dalic’s side significant underdogs in their group opener in Arlington, Texas on 17 June, this is a squad defined by the tension between an ageing but exceptional core and a promising but untested next generation. Here is a look at the squad Dalic has named for what will be a tournament of endings and beginnings in equal measure.
Goalkeepers
Dominik Livakovic remains Croatia’s undisputed number one, the goalkeeper who saved three penalties against Brazil in the 2022 quarter-final shootout and has been one of the most reliable stoppers in international football across the past two World Cups. Dominik Kotarski and Ivor Pandur provide capable cover, but this is Livakovic’s tournament to own.
Defenders
The defensive unit is widely regarded as Croatia’s primary strength heading into the tournament. Josko Gvardiol is the standout, a 24-year-old Manchester City defender who returns from a broken shin suffered in January, making his first appearance for the club only weeks before the squad was announced.
Dalic described him as a major boost and it is easy to see why: Gvardiol’s combination of defensive composure and attacking threat from wide positions gives Croatia a world-class option at left-back who can influence games in both directions. His fitness will be the most important factor in how far Croatia progress.
Josip Sutalo, Duje Caleta-Car, and Josip Stanisic provide experienced cover in the back line, while 18-year-old Luka Vuskovic, currently on loan at Hamburg from Tottenham, is the squad’s most exciting defensive prospect and one who Dalic clearly trusts enough to bring to a World Cup at such a young age.
Midfielders
10 midfielders in a 26-man squad tells you where Croatia’s greatest depth lies, and the midfield group contains the most compelling stories of the entire tournament. Luka Modric, 40 years old and set to retire from football entirely after this tournament, will become one of only three male players alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to appear at six World Cups.
He arrives wearing a protective mask having fractured his cheekbone in April, still playing 90 minutes each week for AC Milan, still conducting games with the intelligence and precision that has defined one of the greatest international careers the sport has seen. His retirement after the final whistle of Croatia’s last game will mark the end of an era for European football.
Mateo Kovacic returns from an injury-hit season at Manchester City to provide the defensive cover and ball-carrying quality that gives Modric the freedom to operate as a creative force rather than a defensive one. Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, and the talented Martin Baturina, who has impressed at Como in Serie A, complete a group with genuine quality and variety.
The most exciting long-term prospects are Luka Sucic of Real Sociedad and Petar Sucic of Inter Milan, cousins who represent the next generation of Croatian midfield talent and will be auditioning throughout the tournament to eventually fill the void Modric leaves behind.
Forwards
This is where questions arise. Croatia have not had a dominant centre-forward since Mario Mandzukic, and the forward group Dalic has assembled reflects that ongoing challenge. Ivan Perisic, at 37, makes his fourth World Cup appearance and brings a record that includes scoring in the 2018 final.
Andrej Kramaric, 34, was Croatia’s top scorer in qualifying with six goals and will lead the line in the biggest moments. Igor Matanovic, who scored 15 Bundesliga goals for Freiburg this season, is the most intriguing forward selection and could prove to be a significant weapon if Dalic deploys him effectively. Ante Budimir and Petar Musa provide additional options, but the lack of a truly dominant striker remains Croatia’s most significant vulnerability.
Croatia face England on 17 June, Ghana on 21 June, and Panama on 25 June in their group stage schedule. World Cup odds reflect England and Croatia as the expected qualifiers from Group L, and that assessment is broadly defensible.
A squad with Modric, Kovacic, Gvardiol, and Kramaric at its core has the quality to navigate a group of this nature, and the emotional fuel of a farewell tournament for several of its most important players should not be underestimated. The knockout rounds, where Croatia have historically been at their most dangerous, will be the real test of whether this generation has one final story to tell.
