Croatian national team head coach Zlatko Dalić has officially named his 26-player squad for the upcoming friendly matches in the United States. The squad will travel to Orlando, Florida, later this month to take part in the “Road to 26” series, facing Colombia and Brazil in back-to-back international fixtures.
The announcement, made public through official team channels, confirms the schedule for the two high-profile friendlies. Croatia is set to face Colombia on March 26, followed by a match against Brazil on March 31. Both games will take place in Orlando, offering the team a valuable opportunity to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Squad List
Dalić has selected a mix of experienced players and younger talents for the trip. In the goalkeeping department, the team will rely on Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski, and Ivor Pandur.
The defensive line features a solid group of players, including Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Kristijan Jakić, Martin Erlić, Luka Vušković, and Ivan Smolčić.
In midfield, veteran captain Luka Modrić headlines a creative and hardworking unit. He is joined by Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Lovro Majer, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro, and Toni Fruk.
The forward positions will be filled by Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Marco Pašalić, Petar Musa, and Igor Matanović.
Stand-By Players
In addition to the main squad, Dalić has also named a list of players on stand-by. The stand-by list includes Bruno Petković, Mislav Orsić, Franjo Ivanović, Domagoj Bradarić, Toma Bašić, Dion Drena Beljo, Franko Kovačević, Karlo Letica, and Luka Stojković.
Looking Ahead
The two matches in Orlando are seen as key preparation steps for Croatia as they build towards the 2026 World Cup. Facing strong opponents like Brazil and Colombia will give Dalić and his staff a clear look at how the team performs against top-level competition.
The squad will gather in Florida ahead of the first match against Colombia on March 26.