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Croatia national football team

The Croatia national football team is the men's senior international football team representing Croatia in association football.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Croatia national football team is the men's senior international football team representing Croatia in association football. It is governed by the Croatian Football Federation and competes in FIFA and UEFA competitions. Croatia has become one of the strongest national teams in Europe, reaching the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final stages and the 2018 final.

History

Croatia became an independent international side in the 1990s and quickly established itself as a major tournament team. Its strongest World Cup runs include third place in 1998, runners-up in 2018, and third place in 2022.

Team and coaching

Current team listings identify Zlatko Dalić as head coach and Luka Modrić as captain. The squad features a mix of experienced players and younger internationals across the 2026 cycle.

Major tournament record

Croatia's best World Cup finish was second place in 2018. The team also reached the semi-finals in 1998 and 2022, making it one of the most consistent smaller-footprint national sides in recent World Cups.

Key players

Recent squad pages list Dominik Livaković, Joško Gvardiol, Luka Modrić, Andrej Kramarić, and Ante Budimir among the notable players. Recent profiles also identify Kramarić as the team's all-time top scorer.

Key facts

  • Croatia's best FIFA World Cup finish is second place in 2018.
  • Croatia reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1998 and 2022, and the final in 2018.
  • Croatia is currently ranked #13 in the FIFA World Rankings.
  • Andrej Kramarić is Croatia's all-time top scorer with 29 goals.
  • Croatia defeated Canada 4–1 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
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Canadian context

Croatia's World Cup performances have been relevant to Canadian readers because Croatia faced Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where Croatia won 4–1 in the group stage.

Frequently asked questions

Who is on the Croatia national football team?
Recent squad listings include Dominik Livaković, Joško Gvardiol, Luka Modrić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, and several others; squads change over time.
What is Croatia's best World Cup finish?
Croatia's best World Cup finish is **runners-up** in 2018.
Who coaches Croatia?
Recent team listings identify **Zlatko Dalić** as Croatia's coach.
When did Croatia last win a World Cup?
Croatia has **never won** the FIFA World Cup.
What is Croatia's FIFA ranking?
A recent team overview lists Croatia at **#13** in the FIFA World Rankings.
Who is Croatia's all-time top scorer?
Recent team profiles identify **Andrej Kramarić** as Croatia's all-time top scorer, with 29 goals.

References

  1. Tribuna — https://tribuna.com/en/team/croatia/squad/
    Supports: Current coach, captain, and squad listing.
  2. Goal — https://www.goal.com/en-us/team/croatia/squad/4njsfszcgd9m765d6suktsz2a
    Supports: Current squad and manager listing.
  3. Football-Lineups — https://m.football-lineups.com/team/Croatia/all/players
    Supports: Current squad list including players.
  4. FIFA Watch — https://fifawatch.com/en/team/croatia/
    Supports: Andrej Kramarić as all-time top scorer with 29 goals.
  5. FotMob — https://www.fotmob.com/teams/10155/overview/croatia
    Supports: FIFA ranking #13 and team overview.
  6. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_football_team
    Supports: World Cup results and tournament history.