Croatia's 2026 World Cup Squad: Modrić's Final Tournament & the Vatreni's Legacy

Croatia arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the most remarkable overachievers in the tournament's modern history. A nation of just four million people, they have finished second (2018) and third (2022) at the last two World Cups — results that defy every expectation based on their population and resources. In 2026, led by an ageing but still imperious Luka Modrić, they go again.

Luka Modrić: Football's Eternal Playmaker

Luka Modrić turns 41 during the 2026 World Cup — making him one of the oldest players ever to compete at the tournament. The Real Madrid legend and 2018 Ballon d'Or winner has been at the heart of Croatia's extraordinary run of tournament success, and his ability to control the tempo of a match, win possession, and distribute with precision remains elite even at his age. This will almost certainly be his final World Cup — and Modrić will want to end on a high.

Group L: England, Ghana, Panama

Croatia are in Group L alongside England, Ghana, and Panama — a group that suits their style of measured, possession-based football. Their fixtures: June 17 vs Panama at BMO Field, Toronto; June 23 vs Ghana at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia; June 27 vs England at AT&T Stadium, Dallas. The Panama opener gives Croatia an ideal chance to start with three points, before the Ghana and England tests reveal how deep this side can realistically go.

Beyond Modrić

Croatia's 2026 squad is not a one-man band. Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Marcelo Brozović, and Ivan Perišić provide experienced support around Modrić in the engine room. Defensively, Croatia remain well-organised and difficult to break down — a quality that has been their foundation at every tournament since 2018. At +7000 in the odds, they are one of the better value picks among the European nations.

One Last Chapter

Croatia's World Cup story is one of the great football narratives of the modern era. From a war-torn nation that qualified for their first World Cup in 1998 and finished third, to back-to-back podium finishes in 2018 and 2022 — the Vatreni have punched above their weight for three decades. In 2026, with Modrić leading them one final time, they deserve to be respected by every team in their path.