A major event like the FIFA World Cup reminds us of two things: Croatia’s ability to punch well above its weight in international sports, and the power and reach of its diaspora.

Whilst Cape Verde, with  a population of around  500,000, may be one of the smallest countries ever to get through the qualifying rounds, Croatia is consistently able to pick strong, internationally-competitive teams from its population of just under four million, in football, tennis, handball, waterpolo, basketball, rowing, skiing  and a multitude of other sports.

Croatia’s record in the World Cup is already strong: it was runner up in 2018 and third in 1998 and 2022. Now, it has qualified for the final 32 in the 2026 World Cup. Led by captain, Luka Modrić, a spritely 40 years of age and now the oldest player ever to record an assist in a FIFA Word Cup match, it features a number of other international football stars  including  Joško Gvardiol and Mateo Kovačić of Manchester City.

Croatia’s worldwide diaspora is thought to be at least the same size as the population of its own country, with an estimated 1.2 million Americans declaring Croatian heritage. Chicago is considered be the focal point, with a diaspora of up to 200,000, and there are significant populations in St. Louis, Detroit, San Pedro, San Jose, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. There are some small towns, like Rankin, near Pittsburgh, where residents with Croatian heritage make up a major proportion of total residents (up to a quarter for Rankin).

So not only does Croatian talent play a large part in its success, so far, in the 2026 World Cup, so does the support of its chequerboard army of local supporters, no doubt significantly swelled by Croatian nationals taking the opportunity to visit US relatives!

For more information on the team:  Croatia | FIFA World Cup 2026™

To Learn Croatian at half time and in the hydration breaks 😉 Croatia v England: World Cup Football: Useful Phrases – Croatian Language School (just play the video)