This is Croatia's third successive FIFA World Cup finals participation. They finished top of European qualifying Group 8, undefeated and seven wins recorded in ten matches. They qualified in style topping their group, levelling with Sweden on 24 points.

The team did not entered the world cup until 1994 due to being part of the Yugoslavia. Their first attempt at the world cup was of top class and they managed to finish in a respectable 3rd place in 1998. However, in 2002 the team only made it as far as the first round where they were knocked out.

Croatia reached the semi-finals in the France World Cup, which included a 3-0 quarterfinal victory over Germany. But unfortunately they lost to France in the semi-finals. The team was named FIFA's "Best Mover of the Year" in 1994 and 1998.