Dalić Names Croatia's 26: Gvardiol Back, Majer Drops to Stand-By, Two Pašalićs Travel
Zlatko Dalić has named the Croatia squad for the 2026 World Cup. Joško Gvardiol returns after a six-month absence, Lovro Majer drops to a seven-player stand-by list, and both Mario and Marco Pašalić travel. Croatia open Group L against England in Dallas on June 17. Pre-tournament friendlies vs Belgium and Slovenia confirmed.
C roatia head coach Zlatko Dalić has named the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The list mixes the surviving spine of the 2018 finalist generation with a younger central-midfield bloc, and the headline name is Joško Gvardiol, who returns to the squad after a six-month absence with Manchester City.
Gvardiol back, Majer to the stand-by list
"Gvardiol has started playing again and he is on the list," Dalić said. "The slight issue is that he was out for six months, but through his training and hard work I believe he will be at full fitness and in the starting line-up at the World Cup, and a great addition for us." The Manchester City defender anchors a back-line of seven that also includes Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Martin Erlić and Luka Vušković.
The most-discussed omission is Lovro Majer, who drops to the seven-player stand-by list along with Franjo Ivanović, Dion Drena Beljo, Ivan Smolčić, Karlo Letica, Adrian Segečić and Luka Stojković. "I have not yet spoken with Majer. He was injured for a long time and has been having issues at his club. Since the last gathering in the United States, he has not started a single match. I am very sorry, but his status at the club has led to him being on the stand-by list," Dalić said. He framed Beljo's omission similarly: not a form problem, depth of competition.
Veterans plus two Pašalićs in attack
In goal Dalić has chosen Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski and Ivor Pandur. The midfield bloc retains the 2018 generation in Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić, with Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro and Toni Fruk completing the ten-man section. The attack adds Marco Pašalić to the squad alongside the more familiar Mario, with veterans Ivan Perišić and Andrej Kramarić joined by Ante Budimir, Petar Musa and Igor Matanović. Dalić said Musa and Matanović had been "in strong form" through the spring run-in.
Group L fixtures and the friendly window
Croatia open Group L against England in Dallas on June 17, face Panama in Toronto on June 23 and close the group against Ghana in Philadelphia on June 27. The pre-tournament programme begins with a gathering in Rijeka on May 25, followed by a friendly against Belgium in Rijeka on June 2. The squad then travels to Varaždin for a friendly against Slovenia on June 7, before flying to Washington on June 9 ahead of the tournament.