Croatia’s captain,​ Luka Modrić, has voiced his hope that Italy‍ will successfully qualify​ for the 2026 FIFA ⁢World Cup, avoiding a third consecutive absence from the tournament. Italy failed to qualify⁣ for ​the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
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⁣ ​ “Not being at ​three World Cups in a row would​ be a tragedy for you,” Modrić told Gazzetta dello Sport.

‌ “I‍ hope Italy goes⁤ through because all the best teams will be at the World ​Cup and Italy is one of the⁤ best, so they have to be there.” He added, “Playoffs are always⁢ difficult, but I wish Italy all the best in qualifying. I will wait for you.”

Croatia’s Qualification and Group ⁤stage

Modrić and the ​Croatian national team‌ have already secured their place in the 2026 World Cup finals. Croatia ‍is drawn into Group L alongside England, Ghana, and Panama.​ The 2026 World ​Cup will be co-hosted by Canada,Mexico,and the United States.

⁣ The expanded format of the 2026 World cup will feature​ 48‌ teams,a notable increase from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. This change aims to provide more opportunities for nations to compete on the global stage.

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification – European Playoff System

⁤ The ‌European qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup involves several stages. teams‍ are initially ⁢divided into groups, and the group winners automatically qualify.‌ ​ Teams that finish in second place in their groups, along ‌with the⁤ best teams from​ the UEFA Nations League who haven’t‍ already qualified, enter the playoffs.
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The playoffs consist of ‌semi-finals and a final match. Italy will need to win both matches to secure their spot in the tournament.⁢ The ⁤draw for the playoff ‍brackets will be conducted in the coming months.