Zlatko Dalić has named his 26-man squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, where Croatia will face England, Ghana, and Panama in Group L. The roster, supplemented by seven standby players, blends the golden generation’s legendary core with exciting young talents ready to carry the torch.
While few major surprises exist in Dalić’s selection, the most significant news is the return of Joško Gvardiol. The Manchester City star missed a considerable stretch of action due to a long-term injury but has recovered in time to anchor Croatia’s defense in North America. Gvardiol was a revelation at Qatar 2022, showcasing composure, ball-playing ability, and surprising attacking threat. His availability provides a massive boost for the Vatreni, who will need defensive solidity against a powerful England attack and Ghana’s quick transitions.
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Dominik Livaković | Fenerbahçe |
| Dominik Kotarski | PAOK |
| Ivor Pandur | Hull City |
Defenders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Joško Gvardiol | Manchester City |
| Duje Ćaleta-Car | Lyon |
| Jošip Šutalo | Ajax |
| Jošip Stanišić | Bayern Munich |
| Marin Pongračić | Fiorentina |
| Martin Erlić | Sassuolo |
| Luka Vušković | Hajduk Split |
Midfielders
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Luka Modrić | Real Madrid |
| Mateo Kovačić | Manchester City |
| Mario Pašalić | Atalanta |
| Nikola Vlašić | Torino |
| Luka Sučić | Red Bull Salzburg |
| Martin Baturina | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Kristijan Jakić | Augsburg |
| Petar Sučić | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Nikola Moro | Bologna |
| Toni Fruk | Rijeka |
Forwards
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Ivan Perišić | Hajduk Split |
| Andrej Kramarić | Hoffenheim |
| Ante Budimir | Osasuna |
| Marco Pašalić | Rijeka |
| Petar Musa | FC Dallas |
| Igor Matanović | Eintracht Frankfurt |
Standby List
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Lovro Majer | Wolfsburg |
| Franjo Ivanović | Union SG |
| Dion Drena Beljo | Augsburg |
| Ivan Smolčić | Rijeka |
| Karlo Letica | Club Brugge |
| Adrian Segecic | FC Dordrecht (on loan from Sydney FC) |
| Luka Stojković | Lokomotiva Zagreb |
Beyond Gvardiol, Dalić has selected a mix of experienced and emerging defenders. Duje Ćaleta-Car and Josip Šutalo bring international experience, while Josip Stanišić capable of playing both full-back and center-back offers valuable versatility after his development at Bayern Munich. Marin Pongračić and Martin Erlić provide further depth, and 18-year-old Luka Vušković, already a regular for Hajduk Split, represents the future of Croatia’s backline. (Source: fifa.com)
Midfield: Experience Meets Emerging Talent
As always, Croatia’s midfield remains its greatest strength and the engine room of the team. Dalić can call upon an abundance of proven quality:
- Luka Modrić – Set to play in his fifth World Cup at the age of 40. Still capable of dictating tempo, his presence alone lifts the entire squad.
- Mateo Kovačić – Now at Manchester City, he brings elite-level press resistance and line-breaking dribbles.
- Mario Pašalić – A constant goal threat from deeper midfield positions, with a knack for arriving late in the box.
- Nikola Vlašić – Creative and hard-working, able to play as an attacking midfielder or on the right.
These four were instrumental in Croatia’s run to a third-place finish in Qatar and will once again be key figures. However, Dalić has also integrated younger options to manage minutes and inject energy. Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb) and Petar Sučić (Dinamo Zagreb) are vital young assets, while Luka Sučić (Red Bull Salzburg), Kristijan Jakić (Augsburg), Nikola Moro (Bologna), and Toni Fruk (Rijeka) provide depth and variation in style—ranging from defensive screening to creative passing.
Attack: Perišić Leads the Line, New Faces Emerge
Up front, experience again takes priority, but there are fresh faces. Ivan Perišić (37) is preparing for his fourth World Cup. Now back at Hajduk Split, he remains a big-game performer capable of changing matches on either flank or through the middle. Andrej Kramarić and Ante Budimir have firmly retained their spots as reliable goal-scoring options.
Alongside them, Dalić has included Marco Pašalić (Rijeka), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), and Igor Matanović (Eintracht Frankfurt). Musa, in particular, has impressed in MLS and offers a different profile as a mobile target man. Matanović, still only 21, provides raw pace and hunger off the bench.
Standby List: Key Players on Alert
Seven players have been placed on standby in case of injuries before the tournament begins:
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Lovro Majer | Wolfsburg |
| Franjo Ivanović | Union SG |
| Dion Drena Beljo | Augsburg |
| Ivan Smolčić | Rijeka |
| Karlo Letica | Club Brugge |
| Adrian Segecic | FC Dordrecht (on loan from Sydney FC) |
| Luka Stojković | Lokomotiva Zagreb |
The most notable omission from the initial 26 is Lovro Majer, whose creativity and technical ability would walk into many national teams. His presence on standby underscores Croatia’s extraordinary midfield depth. Similarly, Franjo Ivanović and Dion Beljo offer attacking alternatives should any of the forwards suffer late fitness issues.
Croatia’s Group L schedule (Sastav Hrvatske na Svjetskom prvenstvu 2026.):
- vs. England
- vs. Ghana
- vs. Panama
With a blend of all-time greats (Modrić, Perišić, Kovačić) and promising youngsters (Gvardiol, Baturina, Matanović), Dalić will hope his squad can replicate or even surpass their recent deep tournament runs. The Vatreni have reached at least the semifinals in two of the last three World Cups (2018 runners-up, 2022 third place). A third consecutive deep run would cement this generation as Croatia’s greatest sporting dynasty.
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