Croatia at the World Cup 2026
Croatia arrive at the 2026 World Cup as one of the UEFA representatives in Group L. Coach Z. Dalić has settled the team into a clear shape for the tournament. This page is the full guide for South African bettors and fans following Croatia across the group stage and beyond.
Croatia at the World Cup 2026
Group L · FIFA World Cup 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Round | Preview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 17/06, 22:00 SAST |  Englandv Croatia |
AT&T Stadium | ||
| Wed 24/06, 01:00 SAST |  PanamavCroatia |
BMO Field | ||
| Sat 27/06, 23:00 SAST | Croatiav Ghana |
Lincoln Financial Field | ||
| Fri 03/07, 01:00 SAST |  PortugalvCroatia |
BMO Field |
The story
Four million people, two World Cup miracles
Croatia is a country of about four million people, yet it keeps reaching the business end of World Cups. No nation overachieves quite like the side in the red-and-white checkerboard.
Their first tournament as an independent country was 1998, and they went straight to the semi-finals, with Davor Suker winning the Golden Boot. It announced a footballing culture far bigger than the map suggests.
Then came the Luka Modric era. Croatia reached the 2018 final, losing to France, then took third place in 2022. Along the way they won an incredible run of knockout games in extra time and on penalties, refusing to break no matter how tired their legs.
Modric carried that team into his late thirties, the heartbeat of a side that simply will not quit.
Croatian fans are passionate and proud, fuelled by a sense that their small nation keeps proving the big ones wrong.
Croatia are the masters of the long game. They are slow starters who come alive in extra time and rarely lose a shootout, which is gold in a knockout format.
How Croatia qualified
Croatia qualified from UEFA Group L second behind Czech Republic, beating them 2-1 at home in the decisive match.
The qualification campaign tested both depth and discipline. Z. Dalić used the long run of group games to bed in a settled XI and to rotate younger players through the squad. The core that will travel to North America in 2026 has played together for a full cycle.
Form heading into the World Cup matters. Croatia have used the friendlies in March and June 2026 to fine-tune the back four and to test set-piece routines. The kick-off in Group L is the moment the work in the build-up pays out or does not.
Group L breakdown
Group L delivers a mix of styles, regions, and pedigrees. The top two go through automatically. The third-placed team has a real shot under the new 48-team format, where the eight best third-placed sides across the 12 groups advance to a new Round of 32.
The three Croatia group matches:
| Date (SAST) | Match | Venue | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 17/06, 22:00 SAST | EnglandvCroatia | None | Group Stage – 1 |
| Wed 24/06, 01:00 SAST | PanamavCroatia | BMO Field | Group Stage – 2 |
| Sat 27/06, 23:00 SAST | CroatiavGhana | Lincoln Financial Field | Group Stage – 3 |
Group L rivals to scout: England · Ghana · Panama.
The opening matchday sets the tone. A win on day one shapes the group, a loss raises the pressure on the second game, and a draw keeps every door open. The seven-day rhythm between matches favours the deeper squads.
The squad: who to watch
Z. Dalić named a settled squad with strong continuity from the qualifying campaign. The starting XI is largely locked in, with three or four positions still open for late competition.
A. Budimir (#11, age 34) is a frontline option for the Croatia attack and a regular starter under Z. Dalić.
A. Kramarić (#9, age 34) is a frontline option for the Croatia attack and a regular starter under Z. Dalić.
I. Matanović (#21, age 22) is a frontline option for the Croatia attack and a regular starter under Z. Dalić.
The bench depth is where many groups are decided. A 60th-minute change can be the difference between three points and one. Croatia need fresh legs in midfield more than anywhere else, with the heat in Mexico and the south-western United States a factor in every late-stage substitution.
How Croatia play under Z. Dalić
Zlatko Dalic plays a 4-3-3 with Luka Modric still central at age 40, Mateo Kovacic alongside and Andrej Kramaric up front.
Pressing triggers, set-piece variety, and transition speed are the three areas a tournament team has to get right. Croatia have drilled all three across the qualifying campaign and the recent friendlies. The squad knows the patterns. The question is execution against opponents at the highest level.
Strengths: organisation in the defensive third, a clear chain of command in midfield, and named leaders on set pieces. Weaknesses: chance creation in open play when the press is beaten, and fitness through 90 minutes of a tournament knockout. Both are normal tournament issues and not unique to Croatia.
Betting on Croatia from South Africa
Croatia to reach the Round of 16 is around 1.45. Modric to start every match is a confidence-based 1.20.
- Croatia to qualify from Group L. The headline pre-tournament market. Worth checking on at least two SA books before placing, since the price band is wide.
- Croatia v their second match opponent, draw or win double. The mid-tournament market that often delivers value once the opening matchday clarifies the group.
- Anytime tournament scorer specials. Each of the named attackers above is in the market across SA books, with the keenest pricing usually on Gbets and YesPlay.
- Goalscorer or to receive a card specials. The match-ups within Group L create unusual props that the bigger global books often miss. Watch the specials boards on Pokerbet on matchday.
For South African pricing on Croatia, our covered partners are YesPlay, Pokerbet, Betshezi, Gbets, and Cloudbet. All five hold valid South African licences. Compare prices across two or three before placing, and never stake more than your set deposit limit.
How to watch Croatia in South Africa
SuperSport on DStv carries every 2026 World Cup match in South Africa. SABC will broadcast a select run of matches on free-to-air, with the Bafana games confirmed and a handful of additional fixtures expected closer to kick-off.
Kick-off times in SAST vary across the Croatia group games. Check the fixtures table above for the exact SAST kick-off and the venue. The Mexico-based matches kick off at one of three local time slots that map to either prime-time or middle-of-the-night SAST viewing.
Streaming via DStv Stream and DStv Now is included with a current subscription, with mobile viewing supported. No extra fee is required for current DStv Premium and Compact Plus subscribers.
FAQ: Croatia at the 2026 World Cup
When does Croatia play their first match?
Croatia’s opening Group L match is on Wed 17/06, 22:00 SAST against England. The match is at None.
Who is Croatia’s manager for the 2026 World Cup?
Z. Dalić is in charge of Croatia for the 2026 World Cup. The full squad is built around zlatko dalic a setup of a 4-3-3 with luka modric still central at age 40, mateo kovacic alongside and andrej kramaric up front.
How did Croatia qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia qualified from UEFA Group L second behind Czech Republic, beating them 2-1 at home in the decisive match.
Where can South Africans bet on Croatia?
Any sportsbook licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. YesPlay, Gbets, Pokerbet, Betshezi, and Cloudbet all carry full Croatia markets for the 2026 World Cup.
What is Croatia’s best ever World Cup result?
Croatia were runners-up at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and third in 2022 in Qatar, the most successful small nation of the modern era.
More on the World Cup
Group L rivals: England · Ghana · Panama
Other: Back to the World Cup 2026 hub · All football fixtures · SA sportsbook reviews
