Five Bundesliga players will be in North America this summer to represent Croatia at the World Cup. Zlatko Dalić's squad was released on Monday morning, with Josip Stanišić, Luka Vušković, Kristijan Jakić, Andrej Kramarić, and Igor Matanović making the cut.
Josip Stanišić has enjoyed a strong season with champions Bayern Munich. The versatile defender has made 26 Bundesliga appearances this season, with two goals and three assists. He was part of the squad that finished third in 2022, and he played all ninety minutes of the third-place game vs Morocco.
Luka Vušković has been one of the biggest success stories of the Bundesliga this season. The defender joined HSV on loan from Spurs last summer and, despite his inexperience, has quickly become one of the best defenders in the league. This will be his first time at the World Cup.
Kristijan Jakić has struggled with availability at times this season, with injuries limiting the Augsburg midfielder to just 18 starts. However, he adds experience and has been a valuable player for Augsburg this season. The midfielder, then with Eintracht Frankfurt, was part of the squad in 2022, but like Stanišić, he did not play until the final game.
Andrej Kramarić is no surprise. Even though he will turn 35 just two days after Croatia's first World Cup game, he is coming off another top season with Hoffenheim. The veteran forward scored 14 goals and assisted six as Hoffenheim qualified for the Europa League, and will hope to play a similarly key role in North America this summer.
Igor Matanović's first full season in the Bundesliga has been a good one. The SC Freiburg forward has scored eleven goals in the Bundesliga and helped the club reach the Europa League Final, where they will play Aston Villa. Croatia will hope that his knockout stage form continues at the World Cup.
There are, of course, other Bundesliga connections in the squad. Defender Joško Gvardiol used to play for RB Leipzig, and Marin Pongračić played for both VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund.
Accomplished winger Ivan Perišić played for Wolfsburg, Dortmund, and Bayern Munich. Winger Marco Pašalić played one Bundesliga game for Borussia Dortmund. Striker Petar Musa was on loan with Union Berlin for half a season. Even striker Ante Budimir was briefly in the 2. Bundesliga with St. Pauli.
Croatia will start its World Cup campaign against England on June 17th.
Croatia's squad for the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Dominik Kotarski, Ivor Pandur.
Defenders: Joško Gvardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Martin Erlić, Luka Vušković.
Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Nikola Vlašić, Luka Sučić, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakić, Petar Sučić, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk.
Strikers: Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Marco Pašalić, Petar Musa, Igor Matanović.
Stand-by players: Lovro Majer, Franjo Ivanović, Dion Drena Beljo, Ivan Smolčić, Karlo Letica, Adrian Segečić, Luka Stojković.
