Croatia to Host Final World Cup Warm‑up Against Belgium as Modrić Bids Farewell
Croatia will host Belgium in a World Cup 2026 warm‑up on June 2, 2026, at a venue in Rijeka, marking a rare meeting between two of the continent’s most consistent sides. Both nations arrive with top‑11 FIFA rankings, and the fixture will showcase a blend of seasoned stars and emerging talent as each nation fine‑tunes its squad for the tournament. For Croatia, the game doubles as a symbolic passing of the torch; veteran coach Zlatko Dalic will lead the team into the finals for the third straight tournament, while 40‑year‑old Luka Modrić is set to play his final World Cup appearance, ending a career that includes 196 caps for the national team. Belgium, meanwhile, is looking to replace the golden generation that dominated the 2010s. Coach Rudi Garcia has called up a host of new faces, including Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and Axel Witsel, who are expected to feature prominently. The most recent encounter between the two sides ended in a goalless draw at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a result that underscored Belgium’s group‑stage exit after a single win. Lukaku, who has managed only seven appearances for Napoli this season, will need the match to regain sharpness. With both teams eager to test tactics and fitness, the June 2 clash promises to be more than a friendly; it will be a final rehearsal for a tournament that will see Modrić’s swan song and Belgium’s attempt to usher in a fresh era of talent.
