Published 18 May 2026
Full of optimism, head coach Zlatko Dalić has announced Croatia's squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. 🇭🇷
The 26-man roster includes experienced names that have been the backbone of the national team in recent years, alongside a handful of younger players pushing for their place.
Goalkeepers:
Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski, Ivor Pandur
Defenders:
Joško Gvardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Martin Erlić, Luka Vušković
Midfielders:
Luka Modrić 👑, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk
Forwards:
Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Marco Pašalić, Petar Musa, Igor Matanović
Stand-by list: Lovro Majer, Franjo Ivanović, Dion Drena Beljo, Ivan Smolčić, Karlo Letica, Adrian Segečić, Luka Stojković
Majer's absence the biggest surprise
Perhaps the most high-profile omission from the main squad is Lovro Majer. Dalić explained that the midfielder has lost his starting place at Wolfsburg, a club that finished third from bottom and was relegated from the Bundesliga, which ultimately cost him his spot in the final 26.
Why didn't the HNL standouts make the cut?
Dion Drena Beljo, the HNL's top scorer this season with over 30 goals, was the most talked-about omission. Dalić explained that competition in attack is simply too strong — Kramarić and Budimir are first-choice starters, while Musa has been in excellent form in MLS and Matanović is Freiburg's top scorer. Beljo lands on the stand-by list, not because of his performances, but because the spots ahead of him are taken.
Josip Mišić, Dinamo's captain and arguably one of the best Croatian league players this season, was also left out. Dalić's reasoning was straightforward: he had not called Mišić up before, younger midfield options were prioritised when Brozović was the incumbent, and it was too late to change course now.
Hajduk goalkeeper Toni Silić was never seriously in contention for the main squad. Dalić acknowledged he had been considered for the stand-by list and described him as a future international, but said the current goalkeeping hierarchy left no room.
There is little reason to doubt that Dalić and his coaching staff have selected the best Croatia has to offer. As with every major tournament, expectations at home are high — and the results of the last two World Cups give every reason for that confidence.
