As part of a special World Cup series, The Athletic is speaking to fans of all 48 competing nations to capture their unique football culture

The countdown is almost over, with less than 24 hours until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Four years may have passed since Qatar delivered one of the

An almost flawless qualifying campaign and statistics that speak for themselves. Croatia’s journey to the 2026 World Cup was virtually perfect. The Balkan side secured qualification with seven wins and just one draw, scoring 26 goals while conceding only four.

One of the darlings of the last eight years in global football is back for another run at an improbable World Cup title.

The Croatian team that came to the United States for this year's World Cup does not seem totally ready to enter a new era. Croatia has arrived in the Washington, D.C. area, where it is setting up camp at least through the group stage,

Croatia's intense passion for football has propelled this Balkan nation to remarkable heights on the international stage. Despite a population of just 4 million, Croatia has reached one World Cup final and two additional semi-finals in their first seven ...

World Cup excitement continued to grow across the Washington region Tuesday as Croatia's national soccer team arrived at Dulles International Airport ahead of the tournament.

Berlin is united by football. Cologne is united by football. Dortmund is… you get the idea. “United by football” has been Germany’s tagline for Euro 2024 since the country announced its bid to stage the tournament in 2017. And, for the vast ...

The effortless, yet functional and sophisticated wardrobe for the team also includes Mackage’s very first footwear release.

Croatia arrive at the 2026 World Cup carrying the weight of a golden generation’s final act, a squad brimming with big-tournament know-how but facing odds that reflect just how crowded the field