The Croatia national football team is facing a big challenge after the expiration of current coach Zlatko Dalić's contract.

What happened?

The last defeat to Portugal (2-1) at the 2026 World Cup showed that Croatia is in search of a change. Dalić's contract has expired, and he has an offer from the United Arab Emirates worth five million euros per season.

Who will be the new coach?

The main candidates for Dalić's position are Slaven Bilić and Ivica Olić. Bilić has already had successes with Croatia, and Olić is a young and promising coach. | Date | Event | | --- | --- | | 2026-07-02 | Portugal - Croatia 2-1 |

What's next?

The Croatian Football Federation must make a decision on the new coach. If Dalić decides to leave Croatia, Slaven Bilić would be an ideal choice. He has already shown his qualities as a coach and has the support of the players. Croatia's current form: 2W-0D-3L (LLWWL, most recent first). Next match: Czechia (away, 2026-09-26), which is currently fourth in the table. The decision on the new coach will be made soon, and the Croatia national football team will continue to fight for successes