A nation of four million people has no business producing one of the most decorated World Cup runs in modern history. And yet, here we are.
Croatia doesn’t do things conventionally. They don’t do group stage dominance or blowout wins. They do late drama, penalty shootouts, and this relentless refusal to die when every logical indicator says they should. They finished third on their tournament debut in 1998 and reached a final in 2018. And now, in what is almost certainly the last World Cup for the man who made most of that possibly, Croatia comes to Dallas Stadium to open their 2026 campaign.
Starting this summer, Dallas Stadium becomes one of the most watched venues on Earth, hosting some of the biggest nations in world football. But who are these teams? What’s their story? And which ones are actually worth showing up for?
That’s what this series is for.
Big D Soccer is breaking down every national team coming to North Texas for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their history, their best players, and our honest take on how far they’ll go. Consider it your cheat sheet for sounding smart at the watch party.
Why you need to watch
Here’s the thing that makes Croatia a must-watch in 2026 specifically: this is the last ride for Luka Modric. He’s the main guy that has helped Croatia punch above their weight for so long, but at 40 he’s on what should be his last ride.
From a Dallas standpoint, you are watching Croatia purely to see if Petar Musa can get on the field and make more noise that we’ve seen in the 2026 MLS season. FC Dallas has been waiting for a World Cup moment from one of their players and Musa has a chance to deliver it.
How they got here
Croatia had no real dream in qualifying. Zlatko Dalic’s side comfortably topped their European qualifying group winning seven of their eight games. They were clean, efficient and professional.
World Cup History
One could argue that Croatia’s World Cup story is one of the greatest overachievement narratives in sports history. Croatia has participated in the World Cup six times since its debut as an independent national in 1998. They’ve had a remarkable pattern of either flaming out early or making it all the way to the final weekend. No middle ground, no quiet quarterfinal exit. They’ve had three podium visits at the World Cup, but no championships.
Players to Watch
🔴⬜ Luka Modric — CM, AC Milan - There is legitimate GOAT conversation surrounding Modric. At 40, this is likely his last World Cup. The iconic midfielder won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup after guiding his country to the final. Watching Modric conduct the midfield for Croatia in a knockout round game is one of the few privileges left in modern football.
🔴⬜ Joško Gvardiol — CB/LB, Manchester City - Longtime readers of this site know how much I favor a good defensive player. Gvardiol is possibly one of the best defensive players on the planet right now, and he’s only 22-years old. He was a revelation in Qatar four years ago and has only gotten better.
🔴⬜ Petar Musa — FW, FC Dallas - You’ve watched him score for your local team, now he’s ready to do it for his country on the biggest stage. Anyone coming to this site should already know about what Musa means to our local club. He’s been scoring at a high rate ever since joining FC Dallas in 2024, which helped him get back on the national team’s radar.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (CT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ June 17 | 🏴 vs. England | Dallas Stadium — Arlington, TX | 3:00 PM |
| June 23 | 🇵🇦 vs. Panama | Toronto Field — Toronto, Canada | 6:00 PM |
| June 27 | 🇬🇭 vs. Ghana | Philadelphia Stadium — Philadelphia, PA | 6:00 PM |
Projected finish
The last few World Cups have shown that you can truly never rule this side out for a deep run. Group L is winnable, even with England in there. If they win their opener, there is serious momentum for this squad to go far. I think they’ll manage things well, but ultimately, their story will end early.
BDS Projected Finish: Quarterfinal
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