ZAGREB — Midfielder Luka Modric will compete in his fifth FIFA World Cup this summer as Croatia looks to make another deep challenge for the championship.
Modric, 40, was named to the 26-man preliminary roster for the North American tournament, Reuters reported.
He made his World Cup debut in 2006 and helped Croatia finish second in 2018 and third in 2022. With 196 career caps, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner could reach 200 this summer.
Forward Ivan Perisic, 37, will participate in his fourth World Cup as manager Zlatko Dalic’s squad blends experience with youth. Perisic (152) also has more than 100 caps, as do midfielder Mateo Kovacic (111) and forward Andrej Kramaric (114).
FC Dallas striker Petar Musa, currently tied for second in MLS with Lionel Messi with 12 goals, made the roster.
The preliminary roster includes seven players on standby who can be called up to the main squad before the 1 June submission deadline. The standby list includes forward Dion Drena Beljo, who has 38 goals in 47 matches across all competitions this season at Dinamo Zagreb.
Croatia, No 11 in the latest Fifa world rankings, is in group L along with England, Ghana and Panama. Croatia opens against England on 17 June in Arlington, Texas, before meeting Panama on June 23 in Toronto and Ghana on 27 June in Philadelphia.
Croatia World Cup Roster
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic (Dinamo), Dominik Kotarski (Copenhagen), Ivor Pandur (Hull City).
Defenders: Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City), Duje Caleta-Car (Real Sociedad), Josip Sutalo (Ajax), Josip Stanisic (Bayern Munich), Marin Pongracic (Fiorentina), Martin Erlic (Midtjylland), Luka Vuskovic (HSV).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Milan), Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City), Mario Pasalic (Atalanta), Nikola Vlasic (Torino), Luka Sucic (Real Sociedad), Martin Baturina (Como), Kristijan Jakic (Augsburg) , Petar Sucic (Inter), Nikola Moro (Bologna), Toni Fruk (Rijeka).
Forwards: Ivan Perisic (PSV), Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim), Ante Budimir (Osasuna), Marco Pasalic (Orlando City), Petar Musa (Dallas), Igor Matanovic (Freiburg).
Standby: Lovro Majer (Wolfsburg), Franjo Ivanovic (Benfica), Dion Drena Beljo (Dinamo), Ivan Smolcic (Como), Karlo Letica (Lausanne).
