As the 2026 FIFA World Cup inches another week closer, the next team that will be put in the spotlight is Croatia. Despite being a relatively new member of FIFA, having debuted in 1998, Croatia has seen much success, though have never been able to lift the trophy yet.
Croatia’s first appearance as an independent entity in the FIFA World Cup came in 1998, where the team quickly made a name for itself. Croatia finished in third place at its first tournament, claiming the bronze medal. After their 1998 finish, Croatia saw a rough patch from 2002 to 2014, either failing to qualify or being eliminated in the group stages.
Croatia found a resurgence in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where the team made it all the way to the final match, where they would ultimately fall to France by a score of 4-2. The team’s success continued into the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Croatia would pick up another bronze medal, unable to return to the final after losing to the eventual champions, Argentina.
Croatia is currently ranked 10th in the FIFA rankings, confirming their status as contenders for the upcoming tournament. The nation has been dominant over the past year, winning eight games in 2025, with one loss to France and a draw against Czech Republic.
The team will be led by its captain Luka Modrić, who plays as a midfielder. Modrić has been with the team since 2006, where he has established himself as one of the best players in the country’s history. In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he won the tournament’s Golden Ball, which is awarded to the best player of the tournament. In what is expected to be his last appearance at the tournament, Modrić will look to finally capture the trophy after several close calls.
The team is coached by Zlatko Dalić, who has held his position since 2017. During his time leading the team, he has orchestrated the revival of the squad, bringing them back-to-back podium finishes in his first two FIFA World Cup appearances after the team failed to make it past the group stages for nearly two decades. He is widely regarded as the best manager in the country’s history and will look to build upon his prestigious legacy.
Finishing within the top three in the past two iterations of the tournament, Croatia will look to continue its dominance and find even more success next summer. The team will hope to go to MetLife Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and hopefully hoist its first trophy, further solidifying their position as one of the best teams in the world.