Nation dossier · Group L · Out in the Round of 32

Croatia

Republic of Croatia

Group LUEFAEliminated · Round of 32

Latest Portugal 2–1 Croatia · Round of 32

Knocked out by Portugal · Match 83

Compare →View bracket path →

Title probability

0.0%

as of 2026-07-20

Overview

Croatia arrive at 2026 as eternal overachievers, a nation of four million that has reached two of the last three World Cup semifinals. The golden generation refuses to fade — Luka Modrić, defying age, remains the heartbeat — but the transition is finally underway with Gvardiol, Šutalo and Sučić carrying the torch.

Qualifying was navigated with the usual blend of guile and grit under Zlatko Dalić, who knows exactly how to peak in tournaments. The question is whether the legs in midfield can still control matches over a long campaign, or whether this is the last dance for the old guard.

Capital

Zagreb

Population

3,848,160

Confederation

UEFA

FIFA code

CRO

World

Region

From Wikipedia

Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west. The Croatian…

Source: Wikipedia →

Squad

Goalkeepers3

1
Dominik Livaković
Dinamo Zagreb · Hero of 2022 World Cup shootouts
52caps
12
Ivor Pandur
Hellas Verona
23
Dominik Kotarski
PAOK

Defenders7

2
Josip Stanišić
Bayern Munich · Versatile attacking full-back
24caps
3
Marin Pongračić
Fiorentina · Powerful left-footed defender
12caps
4
Joško Gvardiol
Manchester City · Star left-sided defender
36caps
5
Duje Ćaleta-Car
Lyon
6
Josip Šutalo
Ajax · Composed young centre-back
20caps
22
Luka Vušković
Hamburger SV · Highly rated teenage centre-back
4caps
25
Martin Erlic
Midtjylland · Aerially dominant stopper
11caps

Midfielders10

7
Nikola Moro
Bologna
8
Mateo Kovačić
Manchester City · Centurion midfielder
111caps
10
Luka Modrić
AC Milan · Captain, record caps, 2018 Golden Ball
196caps
13
Nikola Vlašić
Torino · Tireless attacking midfielder
52caps
15
Mario Pašalić
Atalanta
16
Martin Baturina
Como · Exciting emerging creator
7caps
17
Petar Sucic
Inter Milan
18
Kristijan Jakić
Augsburg
19
Toni Fruk
Rijeka
21
Luka Sučić
Real Sociedad · Creative box-to-box talent
18caps

Forwards6

9
Andrej Kramarić
Hoffenheim · Centurion forward
114caps
11
Ante Budimir
Osasuna · Powerful aerial centre-forward
24caps
14
Ivan Perišić
PSV Eindhoven · Veteran of fourth World Cup
20
Igor Matanovic
SC Freiburg · Hungry young striker prospect
4caps
24
Marco Pašalić
Orlando City
26
Petar Musa
FC Dallas

Model

as of 2026-07-20

Champion0.0%

Reach final0.0%

Semi-final0.0%

Quarter-final0.0%

Round of 160.0%

Advance from group100.0%

Exp. points

6.00

Proj. finish

24.5

Seed Elo

1900

Title-probability trajectory

Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots

Matches

Results

BMO Field, Toronto

Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

BMO Field, Toronto

AT&T Stadium, Dallas

History

1998
Third place
2018
Runners-up
2022
Third place

Culture

Football culture

Football is the undisputed national obsession, with fierce passion radiating from clubs like Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split. The checkered shirt is a unifying emblem, and the country produces an improbable conveyor belt of elite midfielders.

Did you know

A country of four million has reached three World Cup semifinals.
The necktie was invented by Croatian soldiers — 'cravat' comes from 'Croat'.
Dalmatian dogs originate from Croatia's Dalmatia region.
Luka Modrić's 2018 Ballon d'Or broke the Messi-Ronaldo decade.
Croatia boasts over 1,200 islands along its Adriatic coast.