Croatia’s 2026 World Cup campaign opens with a challenging Group L draw against England, Ghana, and Panama, with fixtures beginning June 17. Traders price an early exit as the consensus outcome, reflecting an aging squad anchored by 40-year-old Luka Modric alongside veterans Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric. While experience from prior deep runs provides resilience, the blend of youth and veterans faces questions over physical durability in a condensed schedule. Recent squad announcements confirm Modric’s inclusion after injury recovery, with Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic returning to bolster the defense and midfield. Qualification form was dominant, yet the group’s strength tilts probabilities toward Round of 32 elimination or earlier, consistent with the wisdom of crowds reflected in current market pricing.