Ivan Perišić is 37 and still sits inside Croatia’s veteran core for the 2026 World Cup. The winger is part of a squad built around players in their 30s, with Croatia carrying one of the tournament’s oldest groups into North America.
Croatia's veteran spine
Perišić is not alone in that age profile. Luka Modrić is 40, Mateo Kovačić is 32 and Andrej Kramarić is turning 35, and roughly half or more of Croatia’s starters are in their 30s.
That age mix is the point of the story. Croatia have built their recent standard on veteran continuity, and the same core is still in place as the 2026 tournament approaches.
Modrić and Dalić
Modrić remains the captain and has 29 international goals. He should also pass the 200-cap mark in North America, which keeps the spotlight on the same experienced group that has carried Croatia through its best recent runs.
Zlatko Dalić has guided that group to a silver medal in Russia in 2018 and bronze in Qatar in 2022. After Croatia beat the Faroe Islands to secure top spot in their qualifying group with one game to go, he said, “I will never try to play with three at the back again.”
When asked about his contract, Dalić said, “Leave me in peace to do my job,” and, “I’m not going to sign an extension if anyone is forcing me to decide now.” He has also said the three-at-the-back setup is likely to remain only a plan B for the World Cup.
England, Panama, Ghana
Croatia’s group schedule is already set, with England in Dallas on 17 June, Panama in Toronto on 23 June and Ghana in Philadelphia on 27 June. Those dates will bring the veteran core back onto the biggest stage, with Perišić still part of the group that must carry Croatia through another World Cup run.
