Zagreb, May 18 -- Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic on Monday announced a 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with veteran midfielder Luka Modric set to captain the side at the global showpiece.

It will be Croatia's seventh appearance at the FIFA World Cup, and the Balkan nation will once again look to build on its impressive recent record in the tournament. Croatia finished as runners-up at the 2018 World Cup after losing the final to France and secured third place at the 2022 edition, matching their debut World Cup performance from 1998.

The 40-year-old Modric, widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, remains the centrepiece of the Croatian squad. With 196 international appearances, the former Ballo...