Croatia's golden generation: one last dance?

The squad that reached two finals may be running out of time.

Croatia's remarkable run of tournament success over the past decade has been built on the backs of a golden generation of players.

But time waits for no one, and the 2026 World Cup may represent the last opportunity for several key players to compete at the highest level.

Teams featured in this article

Croatia's Enduring Spirit: A Blend of Veterans and Rising Stars — Croatia approaches the 2026 World Cup with a familiar core, augmented by burgeoning young talents, aiming to defy expectations once more on
Senegal carry the hopes of West Africa into 2026 — With a squad full of European-based talent, Senegal are genuine contenders.
Colombia's Copa América form carries over to World Cup preparation — Strong continental results have built confidence and cohesion for 2026.
Japan's quiet ascent to genuine contender status — The numbers behind Japan's remarkable improvement over the last decade.
France's embarrassment of riches: a position-by-position breakdown — Every position, two world-class options. That's the French advantage.
Argentina's squad depth has never been stronger — The defending champions have options at every position heading into 2026.