8
WC Appearances
including 2026
Runner-up
Best Result
all-time
None
Titles
yet to win
#15
FIFA Ranking
April 2026 (approx.)
About Croatia
Croatia, one of the greatest small-nation success stories in World Cup history, arrive at 2026 to defend the legacy of their extraordinary 2018 run to the final - and their remarkable third-place finishes in 1998 and 2022. Captain Luka Modrić, widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time, plays in his fifth World Cup at age 40, providing inspiration and technical leadership to a squad that will need his experience and class. Coach Zlatko Dalić has maintained Croatia's incredible run of tournament performances, with Joško Gvardiol emerging as one of Europe's best young defenders. Group L against England, Panama, and Ghana is Croatia's clearest path to the knockout rounds, where they become a different team entirely.
Team Base Camp
🇺🇸 USA
Base camp
Alexandria, Virginia
Vatreni base at a private boarding-school campus 8 miles south of Washington DC, with closed pitches and on-site dorms. The setup matches their 2018 base camp model in Russia: semi-rural seclusion and controlled access.
Per FIFA regulations (§18.3), Croatia stays at this base camp for the entire group stage and travels to each match venue one day before kickoff (and returns the same night or the next day).
Distance to each group-stage match
Straight-line distance from Alexandria to each match stadium. Actual travel adds airport time on flights.
Key Players
Dominik Livaković
Duje Ćaleta-Car
Nikola Vlašić
Luka Sučić
Petar Musa
Head Coach
Zlatko Dalić
2026 Group
Group L
Croatia at the 2026 World Cup
All times shown are local to the stadium
World Cup History
| Year | Stage Reached | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3rd Place | 🥉 |
| 2018 | Runner-up | 🥈 |
| 2014 | Round of 16 | |
| 2010 | Group Stage | |
| 2006 | Round of 16 | |
| 2002 | Round of 16 | |
| 1998 | 3rd Place | 🥉 |
8 appearances total · Includes all World Cups as Croatia
Croatia World Cup 2026 FAQ
What group is Croatia in for the 2026 World Cup?+
Croatia is in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside England, Panama, Ghana.
Who is the manager of Croatia at the 2026 World Cup?+
Zlatko Dalić manages Croatia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What is Croatia's FIFA ranking?+
Croatia is ranked #15 in the FIFA World Rankings heading into the 2026 World Cup.
How many World Cups has Croatia played in?+
Croatia has appeared in 8 FIFA World Cups including 2026. Their best result is Runner-up.
When does Croatia play in the 2026 World Cup?+
Croatia's 2026 World Cup group stage matches: June 17 vs England; June 23 vs Panama; June 27 vs Ghana. Knockout matches are determined by group stage results.
Who are Croatia's key players for the 2026 World Cup?+
Key players to watch for Croatia include Dominik Livaković, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Nikola Vlašić, Luka Sučić, Petar Musa.
Where is Croatia's base camp for the 2026 World Cup?+
Croatia will be based in Alexandria, Virginia (USA), training at Episcopal High School. Per FIFA regulations, the team stays at this base camp throughout the group stage and travels to match venues one day before each game.