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Standings
Full Squad
Defenders
Midfielders
Key Players
History of the Croatia national team
Founding and Early Years
The Croatia national team, nicknamed "the Checkered Ones," is governed by the Croatian Football Federation (HNS), founded in 1912, though it only joined the ranks of independent nations in the early 1990s, following the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Team Evolution
Croatia play their home matches at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb.
Great Managers
Miroslav Blažević delivered the young Croatian nation's first great result in only its second World Cup appearance, with 3rd place at the 1998 tournament. Zlatko Dalić later achieved an exceptional double: World Cup runners-up in 2018, then 3rd place in 2022. Slaven Bilić now leads the team through the post-Modrić transition.
Iconic Players
Davor Šuker, top scorer of the 1998 World Cup, where Croatia finished 3rd, remains a founding figure of independent Croatian football. Luka Modrić, the iconic captain and 2018 Ballon d'Or winner with over 200 caps, carried the most successful generation in the country's history.
Major Achievements
Croatia reached the 2018 World Cup final, lost to France, before finishing 3rd in 2022 by beating Morocco in the third-place match — two remarkable results for a nation of under four million people. At the 2026 edition, Croatia were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Portugal (1-2).
The Team Today
Led by Slaven Bilić, Croatia are beginning the transition beyond Luka Modrić's golden generation, while remaining one of the respected nations in the FIFA World Ranking.
Frequently asked questions
When is Croatia's next match?+
Croatia face Spain on 29 September 2026.
What is Croatia's current standing?+
Croatia are currently 2 in UEFA Nations League with 3 points.
What is Croatia's best World Cup result?+
Runners-up in 2018, then 3rd place in 2022.
Who is Croatia's captain?+
Luka Modrić, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner.
How did Croatia's 2026 World Cup end?+
They were eliminated in the Round of 32 by Portugal (1-2).
Who led Croatia to the 2018 final and the 2022 3rd-place finish?+
Zlatko Dalić, head coach for the two best results in the country's history.
Since when has Croatia competed at the World Cup as an independent nation?+
Since 1998, after gaining independence in the early 1990s.
When was the Croatian Football Federation founded?+
The HNS was founded in 1912.