Mijatović Announces Squad for Qualifiers
Head coach Tomislav Mijatović has selected 15 players for the continuation of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, with preparations set to begin on August 13 in Opatija.
Head coach Tomislav Mijatović has selected 15 players for the continuation of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, with preparations set to begin on August 13 in Opatija.
Croatian national basketball team head coach Tomislav Mijatović announced on Thursday, August 7, 2026, a list of 15 players he is counting on for the August preparations and the continuation of the FIBA 2027 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar. As expected, the list includes the main stars Mario Hezonja, Dario Šarić, and Ivica Zubac, along with several names returning after missing previous windows.
The team will gather on August 13, 2026, in Opatija, where the first block of preparations will begin. In addition to the aforementioned trio, the coach has also called up the following players: Krešimir Radovčić, Jaleen Smith, Dominik Mavra, Roko Badžim, Antonio Jordan, Mateo Drežnjak, Luka Božić, Toni Nakić, David Škara, Karlo Matković, Danko Branković, and Krešimir Ljubičić.
Mijatović particularly highlighted his satisfaction that Karlo Matković, Toni Nakić, and Mateo Drežnjak will be joining the team, having missed some of the previous qualifying windows. "We are eagerly anticipating the start of preparations and the reunion with the players. Most of them have been with us during the previous qualifying windows, and this time Karlo Matković, Toni Nakić, and Mateo Drežnjak will be rejoining us," Mijatović said for Sportklub.
After the initial work in Opatija, the team will travel to Hamburg on August 20, 2026, for an international preparatory tournament. The first game is scheduled for August 21 at 5:45 PM against Turkey, while the other semifinal will feature hosts Germany and the Czech Republic. The following day will see the third-place match and the final.
"We will place great emphasis on conditioning, technical, tactical, and individual work. We have also included an exceptionally strong tournament in Hamburg, where Croatia will face Turkey, Germany, and the Czech Republic. The tournament comes at the right time and will serve us for the final team tuning," the coach stated.
Upon returning from Germany, preparations will move to Zadar, where Croatia will face Latvia in a qualifying match on August 27, 2026, at the Krešimir Ćosić Hall. Just three days later, on August 30, they will travel to Amsterdam to take on the Netherlands.
Mijatović also sent a clear call to fans ahead of the game in Dalmatia: "After that, we have two very demanding qualifying matches. First, we will focus all our attention on Latvia, and then on the away game against the Netherlands. We know what kind of atmosphere Zadar can create for the Croatian national team, and we believe the arena will be packed to the rafters. I invite our fans to once again be with us and give us the much-needed wind at our backs," the coach concluded.
