December 13, 2024 – In less than two years, the 2026 World Cup will be held in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Croatia has learned who they will face in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will depend on the outcome of the Nations League quarter-finals against France.
If Croatia is successful against France, they will play in Group D against Ukraine, Iceland and Azerbaijan. If Croatia loses in the quarter-finals, they will play an extra game and be placed into qualifying Group L with the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands and Gibraltar.
The Croatian Football Federation was represented in Zurich for the draw by the technical director of the A and U-21 national teams Stipe Pletikosa, assistant coach Vedran Ćorluka, team manager Iva Olivari and media officer Marko Cvijanović.
The twelve winners of the European qualifying groups will achieve direct placement at the World Cup, while the 12 runners-up and four group winners from the Nations League who did not achieve direct placement or second place in their group will secure additional qualifications. Four more national teams will qualify for the World Cup from these play-offs. The play-offs will consist of four paths with four national teams each, who will play the semi-finals and the final in March 2026.
Croatia has so far participated in six World Cups, only missing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The best results were achieved in Russia in 2018 (silver), France in 1998 (bronze) and Qatar in 2022 (bronze).
