Croatia

The Modrić farewell tour

At 40, Luka Modrić could become the oldest outfield player in World Cup history if he features in 2026. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner has carried Croatia to three straight knockout stages, including two finals (2018 runners-up, 2022 third place). Manager Zlatko Dalić must balance his leadership with emerging midfielders like Luka Sučić (RB Salzburg) and Martin Baturina (Dinamo Zagreb), who lack tournament experience.

Gvardiol anchors a rebuilt defense

Joško Gvardiol’s €90m move to Manchester City cements him as Croatia’s defensive cornerstone. The 22-year-old left-footer will partner either veteran Domagoj Vida or emerging Dinamo Zagreb prospect Josip Šutalo. Fullbacks remain a concern — Borna Sosa’s Stuttgart relegation and Josip Juranović’s inconsistent form at Union Berlin leave gaps opponents exploit.

Group stage déjà vu

Croatia’s 2026 group could mirror past battles. They faced Argentina in 2018 (0-3 loss) and 2022 (0-3 group stage defeat before knocking them out in 2018). A potential rematch with Morocco (2022 group stage 0-0) or Japan (2022 penalty shootout win) would test their tactical flexibility. Their counterattacking 4-3-3 thrives against possession teams but struggles versus physical sides — see Belgium’s 0-0 stifle in Qatar.

Group standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	England	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Ghana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Fixtures & results

Match	Date	Group	Score	Status
England vs CroatiaEstadio Dallas	Wed, Jun 17, 2026 · 21:00 ET	l	–	Scheduled
Panama vs CroatiaEstadio Toronto	Wed, Jun 24, 2026 · 00:00 ET	l	–	Scheduled
Croatia vs GhanaEstadio Philadelphia	Sat, Jun 27, 2026 · 22:00 ET	l	–	Scheduled