About Croatia

The Croatian Football Federation (HNS) was established on 14 June 1912 as the football section of the Croatian Sports Federation. After World War I it was absorbed into the Football Association of Yugoslavia, though a separate Croatian federation was briefly re-established in 1939. Following Croatian independence in 1991, the HNS was readmitted to FIFA on 3 July 1992 and to UEFA on 17 June 1993. The domestic league and cup competitions both launched in early 1992, with clubs such as Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split carrying a rich tradition built during the Yugoslav era.

Croatia's national team made an extraordinary entrance onto the world stage, recording what FIFA described as the fastest ascension in ranking history — admitted at position 125 in 1994 and climbing to third place by 1999. The 1998 World Cup in France announced Croatia's arrival: the team finished third, with striker Davor Šuker claiming the Golden Boot with six goals.

The golden generation reached its peak at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where Croatia became runners-up — the second-smallest country by population ever to reach a World Cup final — losing 4–2 to France. Luka Modrić won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. The team claimed bronze again at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, defeating Morocco 2–1, and finished second in the 2023 UEFA Nations League Finals, cementing Croatia's status as one of Europe's most consistent footballing nations.