World Cup runners-up Croatia finally in FIFA 23 after 10-year absence
No need to Modric the game.
World Cup runners-up Croatia are in FIFA 23 after a decade-long absence from the series.
The Croatian football association confirmed the national team will appear in FIFA 23 in a tweet.
EA also confirmed the news in a tweet.
Croatia was a high-profile absentee from the FIFA series ever since their last appearance in FIFA 12.
A light was shone on Croatia's lack of inclusion back in 2018, after Luka Modrić and co finished second in the World Cup (knocking England out in the process).
As Eurogamer has reported, the dispute was about money.
"The reason why Croatia is not in FIFA 19 is because Croatian Football Federation and EA could not come to an agreement that would satisfy both sides," Tomislav Pacak, spokesperson for the Croatian Football Federation, told Eurogamer at the time.
"Obviously, we value FIFA World Cup silver medallists and world's best player in 2018 more than EA currently does with its offer, and we will continue protecting the value and image of the Croatian team and our players.
"We understand and share disappointment by the gamers and we hope this matter will be resolved in the future - HNS is more than open to that, and we hope EA will also listen to its consumers and respect their wish to have Croatian team available in the game."
In short, Croatia weren't happy about the amount of money EA had offered their federation to have the team officially-licensed in the game. Newspaper reports from back in 2012 claimed EA offered Croatia a paltry 100,000 euros. Davor Šuker, Croatia's all-time leading goalscorer and former boss of the Croatian Football Federation, reportedly scoffed at the offer and refused to play ball.
Obviously, things have changed (Šuker was replaced at the top of Croatian football last year), and a deal has been signed. And it's a good thing, too - it would have been embarrassing for EA not to have Croatia in FIFA 23, given the game is set to receive an official World Cup mode as a free update later this year.
For more, check out our FIFA 23 preview.