Croatia World Cup 2026 Squad: Full 26-Man Roster, Modrić Leads Vatreni for Final Tournament

Zlatko Dalić named his 26-man Croatia squad on May 18, 2026, confirming the Vatreni for what is definitively Luka Modrić’s final international tournament. Croatia enters Group L alongside England, Ghana, and Panama, carrying the weight of extraordinary tournament pedigree — a 2018 final and 2022 semi-final — into a group anchored by the most consequential opening match of the tournament.

Last updated: May 18, 2026.

Full 26-man squad

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

Key inclusions

Luka Modrić captains Croatia at his fifth — and final — World Cup at age 40. The AC Milan midfielder’s longevity is unmatched in modern international football: 190 caps, a Ballon d’Or (2018), a World Cup final, and a semi-final across a 20-year international career. Modrić remains Croatia’s most important player — his ability to control tempo in possession and deliver under knockout pressure is the defining characteristic of Dalić’s Croatia.

Joško Gvardiol (24) has succeeded Modrić as Croatia’s most valuable footballing asset. The Manchester City defender can play center-back or left-back, provides aerial dominance in both boxes, and is comfortable progressing the ball into midfield — a complete modern defender already among the world’s best at his position.

Luka Vušković became Croatia’s youngest World Cup squad member at 19. The Hamburg center-back — who will join Tottenham after the tournament — is among Europe’s most highly rated teenage defenders. His inclusion provides depth and represents Dalić’s investment in Croatia’s defensive future.

Petar Musa earned selection after a strong MLS season with FC Dallas. The 28-year-old forward provides a physical alternative to Budimir in the central striker role and gives Croatia tactical flexibility against different defensive structures.

Notable omissions

Mislav Oršić (Pafos, 33) — the hero of Croatia’s 2022 third-place match and a consistent tournament performer — missed the final cut as Dalić prioritized younger forward options in Matanović and Ivanović.

Borna Barišić (Rangers, 33) was on the preliminary list but lost his left-back spot to Borna Sosa (Crystal Palace) and Gvardiol’s ability to cover the position. Martin Erlić (Bologna) also missed out with the emergence of Vušković.

Tactical outlook

Dalić’s Croatia plays a 4-2-3-1 that becomes a 4-3-3 in possession, built on the midfield trinity that has defined the team’s golden era: Modrić as the creative conductor, Kovačić as the ball-carrier, and Brozović as the positional anchor. It is the most experienced and tournament-proven midfield in international football — 400 combined caps — but also one of the oldest (average age 35).

The system is designed for control. Croatia dominates possession through midfield rotation, with Modrić and Kovačić interchanging positions to create passing angles, while Gvardiol and Stanišić push forward from full-back to provide width. Budimir operates as a traditional No. 9 — target man, hold-up play, box presence — while Kramarić and Perišić provide secondary goal threats from deeper positions.

The defensive structure is organized around Šutalo and Ćaleta-Car, with Livaković — the penalty-saving hero of 2022 — remaining Croatia’s first-choice goalkeeper despite increased competition.

The system’s vulnerability is age and pace. Croatia’s midfield can be overrun by younger, more athletic opponents — exactly the challenge England’s Bellingham and Rice present in the opener. Dalić’s tactical adjustment for that match — likely a more conservative double pivot with Brozović and Moro — will determine Croatia’s group trajectory.

Group L outlook

Croatia’s group is defined by one match:

• vs England (Atlanta, June 17) — The tournament’s most anticipated group-stage match. England’s golden generation expectations under Tuchel collide with Croatia’s tournament pedigree. These teams have met in knockout matches at the 2018 World Cup (Croatia won in extra time) and Euro 2020 (Croatia lost). The winner likely tops Group L.
• vs Ghana (Philadelphia, June 22) — Ghana’s physical, athletic squad presents a very different challenge from England’s technical approach. Croatia’s experience should manage this match, but Ghana’s counter-attacking speed is dangerous.
• vs Panama (Atlanta, June 27) — Panama’s second World Cup appearance. Croatia should control this match, but the short-rest turnaround from the Ghana match tests the squad’s oldest midfield in tournament football.

Croatia’s floor is second place and a Round of 32 berth. The ceiling — as always with this generation — depends on the midfield’s legs holding up through a tournament format that demands seven matches to win. If Modrić, Kovačić, and Brozović can manage their minutes through the group stage, Croatia’s knockout experience makes them dangerous against any opponent.

Fan planning links

• Group L full analysis
• Atlanta host city guide
• Philadelphia host city guide
• How to watch legally
• Squad tracker — all 48 teams

Sources checked

• HNS (Croatian Football Federation) official squad announcement
• Goal.com Croatia squad projections
• HRT (Croatian Radiotelevision) March 2026 call-up coverage
• Dalić March 2026 press conference (“Road to ‘26” friendlies)