World Cup archive
Croatia have punched miles above their weight since independence. The red and white checkerboard — the šahovnica — is one of the most recognisable kit patterns in world football, and a nation of fewer than four million has reached a World Cup final and two other semi-finals. That's an absurd record.
At a glance
World Cup runners-up (2018)
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France
The iconic white and red checkerboard shirt — Croatia's first ever World Cup kit. Still the most famous checkerboard template ever made.
Davor Šuker's six goals carried Croatia to a stunning third-place finish on their World Cup debut, beating the Netherlands in the bronze final.
Russia
Sharper checkerboard Nike home with a modern v-collar. Instantly recognisable on TV.
Luka Modric's Croatia beat England in the semi-finals before losing to France in the final. Modric won the Ballon d'Or. Iconic run.
Qatar
Tidier, slightly smaller checkerboard with a cleaner template — some fans thought it was toned down compared to 2018.
Croatia beat Brazil on penalties in the quarter-finals in one of the great upsets and finished third after a final defeat to Argentina in the semis and a bronze-medal win over Morocco.
USA/Mexico/Canada
Current-cycle Croatia home shirt for the 2026 tournament.
The archive continues on the live 2026 Croatia team page.
No. Croatia finished second in 2018 (losing to France 4-2) and third in both 1998 and 2022.
Nike have made the Croatia national team kit since 2000.
The šahovnica — the red and white check — is the coat of arms of Croatia and has been a national symbol since the Middle Ages. It was formally adopted after independence in 1991 and immediately applied to the football kit.
Jump from the archive to the current tournament page, retro shopping, or the biggest head-to-head matchups for Croatia.
