2026 World Cup – Group L: Croatia preview, squad and fixtures

17.06.26 FT World Cup

England

4

:

Croatia

2

Croatia enters the 2026 World Cup as an undeniable force on the international stage. Finalists in 2018 and third-place finishers in 2022, the Balkan side has now firmly established itself among football's elite.

World Cup history

Since making their debut in 1998, Croatia has become a major player in the tournament. They immediately claimed third place in their first appearance.

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Twenty years later, they reached the final in Russia and went on to secure another third place in Qatar in 2022.

Qualification campaign

Croatia dominated the UEFA qualifiers, finishing top of Group L with an impressive record of 7 wins and 1 draw, scoring 26 goals throughout the campaign—including a 7-0 rout against Gibraltar and a 5-1 thrashing of the Czech Republic.

Number of appearances

6 (1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)

World Cup record

30 matches: 13 wins, 8 draws, 9 losses – 43 goals scored / 33 goals conceded

Croatia squad

Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb, CRO), Dominik Kotarski (FC Copenhagen, DEN), Ivor Pandur (Hull City, ENG D2)

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City, ENG), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad, ESP), Josip Sutalo (Ajax Amsterdam, NED), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich, GER), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina, ITA), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland, DEN), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg, GER)

Midfielders: Luka Modric (AC Milan, ITA), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City, ENG), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta Bergamo, ITA), Nikola Vlasic (Torino FC, ITA), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad, ESP), Martin Baturina (Como, ITA), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg, GER), Petar Sucic (Inter Milan, ITA), Nikola Moro (Bologna, ITA), Toni Fruk (Rijeka, CRO)

Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven, NED), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim, GER), Ante Budimir (Osasuna, ESP), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City, USA), Petar Musa (FC Dallas, USA), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg, GER)

Croatia's Group L fixtures

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

England - Croatia

20:00 | Dallas Stadium

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Panama - Croatia

23:00 | Toronto Stadium

Saturday, 27 June 2026

Croatia - Ghana

21:00 | Philadelphia Stadium

Imed Ben Amara |

Editorar, fr

Imed Ben Amara - bilingual sports writer and web editor with experience in football content creation. Since 2021, he has contributed to Foot Africa, providing news coverage and analysis.

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