Croatia Announce 2026 World Cup Squad with Modric, Gvardiol Included
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| Luka Modric named in Croatia squad for fifth World Cup |
The 2018 finalists mix experience and youth in their World Cup squad, with Dalic keeping the core while adding new names for 2026.
Modric leads Croatia’s 26-man World Cup squad as Dalic blends experience and youth...
Luka Modric will play at a fifth World Cup after Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic named him in the 26-man squad for the 2026 tournament on Monday. Lovro Majer missed out on the main list and will be on standby as a reserve.
Dalic kept the core of the squad around Croatia’s experienced leaders but still faced difficult calls. Several selection debates that had split opinion across the country were settled with his final choices.
Modric remains the team’s reliable captain and will lead Croatia once again. He will be supported in midfield by Mateo Kovacic and Mario Pasalic. Four other players from the 2018 World Cup final run have also made the squad alongside Modric and Kovacic: Dominik Livakovic, Duje Caleta-Car, Ivan Perisic, and Andrej Kramaric.
Dalic is still introducing new faces into the group. Josko Gvardiol heads the latest wave of younger players, joined by talents including Martin Baturina of Como, Luka Vuskovic of Hamburg, and Rijeka midfielder Toni Fruk.
The squad announcement has already caused a lot of discussion in Croatia, with the biggest debate around the attacking options.
Dion Drena Beljo’s omission stands out as he finished as the top scorer in the Croatian league but will only be on the reserve list. Explaining the call at a press conference, Dalic said:
“Congratulations to Dinamo and Beljo, he was very close, but the competition is fierce. Kramaric and Budimir are undisputed, while Petar Musa is performing very well in MLS and Igor Matanovic is shining in the Bundesliga. The only reason he is not among the 26 is the level of competition.”
Bruno Petkovic is another notable absentee. The striker struggled with injuries late in the season, and after speaking with him, Dalic decided he was not fit enough to be selected.
Croatia's 26-man Squad
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (FC Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull City).
Defenders: Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Martin Baturina (Come), Petar Sucic (Inter Milan), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).
Forwards: Marco Pasalic (Orlando City), Ivan Perisic (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Ante Budimir (Osasuna).
Reserves: Karlo Letica (Lausanne), Ivan Smolcic (Como), Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Dion Drena Beljo (Dinamo), Franjo Ivanovic (Benfica), Luka Stojkovic (Dinamo), Adrian Segecic (Portsmouth).
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