Croatia compete in Group Twelve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Record:
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Best World Cup finish: Runners-up in 2018
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Best European Championship finish: Quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008
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Last World Cup appearance: 2022 (semi-finals)
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FIFA ranking: 11
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Nickname: Vatreni (The Blazing Ones)
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Top clubs: Dinamo Zagreb, Hajduk Split
Qualification: They faced no real threat in their group — the very same Group Twelve in which they will compete at the World Cup itself. Croatia finished their qualifying campaign unbeaten (seven wins and one draw), six points clear of the Czech Republic, who were themselves forced into a play-off but succeeded in qualifying.
Coach: At 59, Zlatko Dalić is preparing for his third World Cup at the helm of the Croatian national team. After a modest coaching career, largely in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Dalić was appointed Croatia manager in 2017 amid some uncertainty. Under his guidance, Luka Modrić and company delivered a series of extraordinary World Cup campaigns for a country of just 3.9 million people — reaching the 2018 World Cup final before losing to France, and the 2022 semi-finals in Qatar, where they fell to eventual champions Argentina.
Star player: One of the greatest midfielders in football history, Luka Modrić has shone both at club level with Real Madrid — where he accumulated a remarkable trophy haul including six Champions League titles — and internationally, where his footballing intelligence and technical quality made him a pivotal figure at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. At 40, he produced a solid season with AC Milan and prepares once more to lead his country, alongside fellow veteran winger Ivan Perišić (37).
Ambitions: After two outstanding World Cup runs, Croatia aim to conjure yet another heroic campaign under their battle-hardened veterans. However, Dalić's side arrive on the back of a significant disappointment at Euro 2024 — suffering a heavy defeat to Spain (0–3), failing to close out their match against Albania (2–2), and ultimately going out in the group stage after drawing with Italy (1–1). Can they rediscover that level once more?