Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 20, 2026
Croatia are one of the most overachieving nations in World Cup history - third in their debut tournament in 1998 and runners-up in 2018 - a remarkable record for a country of fewer than four million people competing in just their sixth finals in 2026. This page covers the full Croatian World Cup record - stats, records, top scorers, head-to-head results, the complete 2026 squad, and their Group L schedule against England, Ghana, and Panama from June 17 onward.
Croatia heads into the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle after becoming one of the most consistent teams in international football over the last decade. Explore Croatia’s latest squad list, fixtures, records, results, and all-time FIFA World Cup statistics.
Croatia continues to compete among Europe’s strongest football nations with an experienced midfield, organized defense, and technically gifted attacking players. The national side has regularly produced strong performances in recent FIFA World Cups.
The team combines experienced international stars with emerging young talent while aiming for another deep run at the FIFA World Cup. Croatia’s tactical discipline and tournament experience continue to make the side highly competitive on the global stage.
Croatia FIFA World Cup Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Croatia |
| Football Association | Croatian Football Federation (HNS) |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Nickname | Vatreni |
| FIFA Ranking | Top 10 |
| First FIFA World Cup Appearance | 1998 |
| Total FIFA World Cup Appearances | 6 |
| Consecutive Appearances | 3 (2014-2022) |
| Best FIFA World Cup Finish | Runner-up (2018) |
| Total Matches Played | 30 |
| Total Wins | 17 |
| Total Draws | 5 |
| Total Losses | 8 |
| Goals Scored | 40 |
| Goals Conceded | 28 |
| Win Percentage | 56.7% |
| Clean Sheets | 10 |
| Penalty Shootout Record | Won 4, Lost 1 |
| Most World Cup Matches by Player | Luka Modrić - 19 |
| Most Goals by Player | Davor Šuker - 6 |
| Largest Victory | 4-0 vs Cameroon (2014) |
| Biggest Defeat | 1-3 vs Mexico (2002) |
| Latest FIFA World Cup Appearance | 2022 |
Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Squad List
Croatia announced their final squad on May 18.
Coach: Zlatko Dalić
| S.N. | Position | Player | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goalkeeper | Dominik Livaković | 73 | 0 | Dinamo Zagreb |
| 2 | Goalkeeper | Dominik Kotarski | 3 | 0 | Copenhagen |
| 3 | Goalkeeper | Ivor Pandur | 0 | 0 | Hull City |
| 4 | Defender | Joško Gvardiol | 46 | 4 | Manchester City |
| 5 | Defender | Duje Ćaleta-Car | 38 | 1 | Real Sociedad |
| 6 | Defender | Josip Šutalo | 31 | 0 | Ajax |
| 7 | Defender | Josip Stanišić | 29 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
| 8 | Defender | Marin Pongračić | 18 | 0 | Fiorentina |
| 9 | Defender | Martin Erlić | 12 | 1 | Midtjylland |
| 10 | Defender | Luka Vušković | 4 | 1 | Hamburger SV |
| 11 | Midfielder | Luka Modrić | 196 | 28 | Milan |
| 12 | Midfielder | Mateo Kovačić | 111 | 5 | Manchester City |
| 13 | Midfielder | Mario Pašalić | 83 | 11 | Atalanta |
| 14 | Midfielder | Nikola Vlašić | 61 | 10 | Torino |
| 15 | Midfielder | Luka Sučić | 19 | 1 | Real Sociedad |
| 16 | Midfielder | Martin Baturina | 17 | 1 | Como |
| 17 | Midfielder | Kristijan Jakić | 16 | 2 | FC Augsburg |
| 18 | Midfielder | Petar Sučić | 15 | 1 | Inter Milan |
| 19 | Midfielder | Nikola Moro | 9 | 0 | Bologna |
| 20 | Midfielder | Toni Fruk | 7 | 1 | Rijeka |
| 21 | Forward | Ivan Perišić | 152 | 38 | PSV Eindhoven |
| 22 | Forward | Andrej Kramarić | 114 | 36 | TSG Hoffenheim |
| 23 | Forward | Ante Budimir | 36 | 6 | Osasuna |
| 24 | Forward | Marco Pašalić | 13 | 1 | Orlando City |
| 25 | Forward | Petar Musa | 10 | 1 | FC Dallas |
| 26 | Forward | Igor Matanović | 8 | 2 | SC Freiburg |
Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Match | Venue | City | Stage | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Wed, June 17 | England vs Croatia | Dallas Stadium (AT&T) | Dallas | Group Stage | 15:00 |
| 46 | Tue, June 23 | Panama vs Croatia | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) | Toronto | Group Stage | 19:00 |
| 71 | Sat, June 27 | Croatia vs Ghana | Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Fin.) | Philadelphia | Group Stage | 18:00 |
Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
| Date | Match | Match Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 June 2026 | England vs Croatia | Croatia won 1-0 | Dallas Stadium (AT&T), Arlington | Group Stage |
| 23 June 2026 | Panama vs Croatia | Upcoming Fixture | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto | Group Stage |
| 27 June 2026 | Croatia vs Ghana | Upcoming Fixture | Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field), Philadelphia | Group Stage |
Croatia FIFA World Cup Best Performances
| Year | Host Country | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Russia | Runner-up |
| 1998 | France | Third Place |
| 2022 | Qatar | Third Place |
Croatia All-Time FIFA World Cup Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 30 |
| Wins | 17 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Goals Scored | 40 |
| Goals Conceded | 28 |
| Clean Sheets | 10 |
| Top Three Finishes | 3 |
Croatia Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luka Modrić | 19 | 5 | 2006-2022 |
| 2 | Ivan Perišić | 17 | 4 | 2014-2022 |
| 3 | Darijo Srna | 13 | 3 | 2002-2014 |
| 4 | Ivan Rakitić | 13 | 3 | 2014-2018 |
| 5 | Marcelo Brozović | 14 | 3 | 2014-2022 |
| 6 | Mario Mandžukić | 11 | 3 | 2014-2018 |
| 7 | Dario Šimić | 10 | 3 | 1998-2006 |
| 8 | Vedran Ćorluka | 11 | 3 | 2006-2018 |
| 9 | Josip Šimunić | 9 | 3 | 2002-2014 |
| 10 | Robert Prosinečki | 7 | 2 | 1998-2002 |
Croatia Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davor Šuker | 6 | 7 | 1998 |
| 2 | Ivan Perišić | 6 | 17 | 2014-2022 |
| 3 | Mario Mandžukić | 5 | 11 | 2014-2018 |
| 4 | Andrej Kramarić | 4 | 11 | 2018-2022 |
| 5 | Luka Modrić | 2 | 19 | 2006-2022 |
| 6 | Nikica Jelavić | 1 | 3 | 2014 |
| 7 | Marcelo Brozović | 1 | 14 | 2014-2022 |
| 8 | Robert Prosinečki | 1 | 7 | 1998-2002 |
| 9 | Ivan Rakitić | 1 | 13 | 2014-2018 |
| 10 | Bruno Petković | 1 | 5 | 2022 |
FAQs About Croatia FIFA World Cup Records
Croatia’s best FIFA World Cup finish was runner-up during the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Davor Šuker is Croatia’s leading FIFA World Cup goalscorer with six goals.
Croatia has appeared in six FIFA World Cup tournaments since becoming an independent nation.
Luka Modrić holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for Croatia.
Croatia finished third at the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and again in 2022.