Croatia name squad for World Cup qualifiers – Vušković gets first call up

Luka Vušković

Zlatko Dalić has named a 24-man Croatia squad for the opening matches of the European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Croatia are set to kick off their World Cup qualifying journey in June. The Vatreni will face Gibraltar in Faro, Portugal on 6 June (20:45 CET), before hosting the Czech Republic at the Opus Arena in Osijek on 9 June (20:45 CET).

Captain Luka Modrić continues to lead the team, while young defender Luka Vušković receives his first senior call-up after an impressive season in Belgium.

“Through the Nations League, we’ve shaped a squad that will carry us into the qualifiers. Our goal is well-known and clear – to qualify for the World Cup,” said Dalić. “We mustn’t underestimate Gibraltar, as that game will be key for gaining momentum before facing the Czech Republic, which is one of the crucial fixtures of the qualifiers.”

Dalić stressed the importance of mental and physical preparation for the June matches, as the team aims to secure six points at the start of their campaign.

There are a few notable absentees. Nikola Vlašić is sidelined due to a health issue, while Borna Sosa has been left out after a lengthy period without first-team football at Torino.

Marco Pašalić, currently playing in MLS, may be added later, depending on his club’s willingness to release him before 2 June.

“Luka Vušković has earned his place with consistently strong performances in Belgium. This is a great opportunity for him to experience the senior national team environment and stay motivated to keep progressing,” Dalić added.

He also congratulated players who recently won domestic titles or fulfilled club ambitions, expressing hope that this success would carry into the national team’s performances.

The squad will gather in Rijeka on 30 May for preparations, travelling to Faro on 5 June. After the Gibraltar match, the team returns to Osijek to prepare for the clash against the Czech Republic.

Due to Croatia’s participation in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, they join the qualification campaign later than others.

After the June fixtures, Croatia will play two matches in each of the remaining international windows: in September (Faroe Islands away, Montenegro home), October (Czech Republic away, Gibraltar home), and November (Faroe Islands home, Montenegro away).

Full Croatia Squad for June Qualifiers

Goalkeepers:
Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivušić, Dominik Kotarski

Defenders:
Joško Gvardiol, Josip Juranović, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Luka Vušković

Midfielders:
Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Lovro Majer, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk

Forwards:
Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Franjo Ivanović

On standby:
Marko Pjaca, Mislav Oršić, Marco Pašalić, Karlo Letica