UEFA · FIFA Rank #9
A nation of 3.9 million people that reached the World Cup final in 2018 and the semi-finals again in 2022. Luka Modrić leads one final charge toward the trophy that eluded his golden generation.
Croatia's World Cup history is astonishingly concentrated into two tournaments. As an independent nation since 1991, Croatia debuted in 1998 France—Davor Šuker's golden boot and the iconic quarter-final victory over Germany announcing a small nation's footballing ambitions. Šuker scored 6 goals as Croatia finished third, the best debut tournament performance in modern World Cup history.
Between 1998 and 2018, Croatia existed in international football's middle tier—competent but never threatening the elite. The 2006 and 2014 World Cups ended in group stage exits. The 2018 Russia tournament transformed everything. Zlatko Dalić's side—built around Luka Modrić's midfield control and Ivan Rakitić's industry—navigated groups containing Argentina, Iceland, and Nigeria before defeating Denmark and Russia in knockout rounds. The semi-final against England at Luzhniki Stadium delivered a 2-1 extra-time victory, Modrić's performance earning comparisons to Zinedine Zidane. The final against France saw Croatia lose 4-2 despite Mario Mandžukić's early opener—their underdog story ending with heads held high.
The 2022 Qatar tournament delivered third place and another bronze medal—a remarkable achievement for a nation of under 4 million. The tournament featured penalty shootout wins over Brazil in the quarter-finals and Japan in the round of 16, with Dominik Livaković's shootout heroics delivering Croatia's greatest modern tournament. By 2026, the 38-year-old Modrić and 31-year-old Rakitić are gone, replaced by a new generation led by Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol.
Croatia's 2026 campaign feels like the final chapter for one of international football's most remarkable generational stories. Luka Modrić, likely playing his final World Cup at 40, still dictates the tempo in midfield, and the team's collective organisation and tournament intelligence remain elite. A quarter-final finish is the most realistic outcome — Croatia consistently punch above their weight, and a semi-final is not out of the question if the bracket opens up. How much Modrić has left in the tank when the knockout rounds arrive will define just how far this side can go.
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World Cup 2026 · Group L · Match schedule TBD — opponents confirmed