Luka Modrić leads Croatia's final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Venerable midfielder Luka Modrić will officially headline Croatia’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in what is widely anticipated to be the final global tournament for the nation’s historic "golden generation." Head coach Zlatko Dalić finalized the official roster on Tuesday, blending seasoned veterans with a crop of highly rated young talents tasked with defining the future of Croatian football.

The Vatreni enter the tournament aiming to replicate or surpass their historic recent runs, having finished as runners-up at Russia 2018 and capturing the bronze medal at Qatar 2022. Croatia has been drawn into a highly competitive group alongside England, Panama, and Ghana. They will open their campaign on June 17 in a marquee group-stage clash against England.

The headlines: Modrić’s last dance and fitness gambles

At 40 years old, Luka Modrić remains the undisputed focal point of the national team. The veteran midfielder, who recently completed a club move to AC Milan, has been following a specialized physical preparation protocol designed cooperatively by the Italian club and Croatia’s medical staff. The tailored regimen was established to ensure he achieves peak conditioning following his recent recovery from a complex facial fracture.

Dalić has also taken calculated risks by including Manchester City duo Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol, both of whom arrive with significant injury baggage:

• Mateo Kovačić: Missed a dominant portion of the European club season due to persistent Achilles tendon problems.

• Joško Gvardiol: Recently completed an intensive rehabilitation process following a fractured tibia that initially threatened to rule him out of the tournament entirely.

In contrast to the veterans, the absolute wildcard of Dalić’s selection is the inclusion of 19-year-old central defender Luka Vušković. Born in 2007, the Hamburger SV center-back—currently on loan from Tottenham Hotspur—has earned a direct ticket to North America despite holding only four senior international caps, making him one of the youngest players registered for the 2026 tournament.

Croatia’s official 2026 World Cup squad roster

The complete 26-player roster selected by Zlatko Dalić features the following lines:

• Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković (Dinamo Zagreb), Dominik Kotarski (FC København), Ivor Pandur (Hull City).

• Defenders: Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Ćaleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Šutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanišić (Bayern Munich), Marin Pongračić (Fiorentina), Martin Erlić (Midtjylland), Luka Vušković (Hamburger SV).

• Midfielders: Luka Modrić (AC Milan), Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City), Mario Pašalić (Atalanta), Nikola Vlašić (Torino), Luka Sučić (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakić (Augsburg), Petar Sučić (Inter Milan), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).

• Forwards: Ivan Perišić (PSV Eindhoven), Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pašalić (Orlando City), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Igor Matanović (Freiburg).