Croatian Embassy in Washington D.C.

🐾⚽ Matchday prediction from the Embassy’s most important four-legged analyst…

Mo has completed her final preparations for today’s Croatia–England clash in Dallas. After carefully inspecting the soccer ball, supervising Embassy operations, and accepting a well-deserved treat, she is ready to make her prediction.

Her expert analysis? Plenty of Croatian possession, a few spectacular goals, and maximum treats for everyone involved. 🇭🇷🐶

From all of us at the Embassy — and especially from Mo — good luck to the Vatreni as they take on England today! We’ll be cheering them on every step of the way.

Now it’s time for Mo to settle into her matchday routine: watching the game, guarding the ball, and reminding everyone that football is best enjoyed with snacks. ⚽😴

Naprijed Vatreni! Iznad svih Hrvatska! 🔥🇭🇷

🐾⚽🇭🇷

Last evening, the Embassy of Croatia was honored to host the Washington, D.C. promotion of The Smile, the memoir of the late Krešimir Ćosić, edited by his daughter, Ana Ćosić Pajurin. 🇭🇷🏀📖

The evening opened with welcoming remarks by Ambassador Pjer Šimunović, who reflected on Ćosić’s extraordinary legacy and his lasting connection to the Embassy. As Croatia’s first Deputy Ambassador in Washington, Krešimir Ćosić played a pivotal role in establishing the Embassy’s presence in the United States, including the acquisition and renovation of its current home. His contributions continue to be remembered and appreciated by generations of Croatian diplomats.

The panel discussion, moderated by Lara Romano, Chief of Staff at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, featured Ana Ćosić Pajurin, Clayton Foulger, and Brian Santiago of Brigham Young University. Together, they explored the many facets of Ćosić’s remarkable life—not only as one of the greatest basketball players of his generation, but also as a diplomat, father, friend, mentor, and man of faith.

We were especially honored by the presence of basketball legend Toni Kukoč, who shared personal memories and reflections on Ćosić’s profound influence on Croatian basketball and beyond.

The evening concluded with a beautiful performance by Duo Dominanta, whose violin and piano program provided a fitting musical tribute to a truly exceptional Croatian.

Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating the life, achievements, and enduring legacy of Krešimir Ćosić.

⚽🇭🇷 Sport has the power to bring people together long before the opening whistle.

On June 15, Ambassador Pjer Šimunović participated in The Power of Sports Embassy Dialogues: Panama, Croatia, Ghana, and the UK, a special event hosted by the Atlantic Council exploring how major sporting events can strengthen international partnerships and people-to-people ties.

In the opening discussion, Ambassador Šimunović joined Ambassador Ana Irene Delgado of Panama in a conversation moderated by Jason Marczak, Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.

Ahead of the upcoming Croatia–Panama World Cup match, the ambassadors discussed not only football, but also the culture, tourism, traditions, and unique stories that their countries bring to the world’s biggest sporting event. The audience was also given an opportunity to learn more about Croatia and Panama beyond the pitch.

The event also featured the participation of H.E. Victor Emmanuel Smith, Ambassador of Ghana to the United States, and H.E. Christian Turner, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the United States, who joined a separate panel discussion as the four Group L nations look ahead to the FIFA World Cup.

The dialogue was a wonderful reminder that while teams compete on the field, the World Cup also creates opportunities for friendship, cultural exchange, and cooperation among nations.

⚽ Four countries. One World Cup group. Countless opportunities for friendship and cooperation.

As Croatia, Panama, Ghana, and the United Kingdom prepare to begin their World Cup journey in Group L, Ambassador Pjer Šimunović will join fellow ambassadors from the group for a special discussion at the Atlantic Council on how sports can strengthen international partnerships far beyond the playing field.

Football has a unique ability to bring people together, build connections, and create lasting friendships between nations. We look forward to a lively conversation on sports diplomacy, international cooperation, and the opportunities that major sporting events can create for our communities.

May the best team win on the pitch—but off the pitch, everyone wins when sports bring us together. 🇭🇷🤝🌍⚽

Ambassador Pjer Šimunović met with representatives of the Croatian Association of the Most Sensitive in Training (UNUO), led by the Association’s President, Vedran Habel. 🇭🇷🤝🇺🇸

UNUO is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the training, employment, and social inclusion of persons with disabilities through innovative programs in gastronomy and tourism.

The discussion focused on UNUO’s impressive work and its plans to implement an inclusive educational program in the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Through its activities, the Association promotes abilities rather than limitations and helps create greater opportunities for participation, employment, and community engagement.

The Embassy commends UNUO for its inspiring efforts and wishes them every success in their future projects.

It was our pleasure to welcome 30 students from Croatian schools across the United States, accompanied by 14 teachers, including Andrea Katić Bruno, Coordinator for Croatian Language Instruction in the United States, as well as Fr. Antonio Musa and Fr. Ante Begić. The group represented Croatian communities from Chicago, Boston, New York, and Cleveland.

Their visit was a wonderful reminder of the strong and enduring ties between Croatia and Croatian communities in the United States. Through their dedication to preserving the Croatian language, culture, and identity, these students and their teachers help ensure that future generations remain connected to their heritage.

We are especially grateful to the teachers, coordinators, and community leaders whose commitment makes this possible and who play such an important role in strengthening the bonds between Croatia and its diaspora.

We wish them every success in their important work and look forward to welcoming many more young Croatian Americans in the years to come. 🇭🇷🇺🇸

Some people know him as Captain America. In our A250 series, we know him as one of the many Croatian Americans whose story reflects the deep ties between Croatia and the United States. 🇺🇸⚽🇭🇷

Christian Pulisic is one of the most accomplished American soccer players of his generation and among the most recognizable faces of the sport in the United States. A dual U.S.-Croatian citizen, he proudly carries both American and Croatian heritage, reflecting the rich story of the Croatian-American community.

From Pennsylvania to the world’s biggest competitions, including the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup, Pulisic has built a career defined by talent, determination, and leadership. Along the way, he has become a symbol of the growing prominence of soccer in the United States and an inspiration to young players on both sides of the Atlantic.

As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Christian’s journey reminds us that the Croatian-American story continues to be written every day — on playing fields, in communities, and on the world stage.

And as the World Cup approaches, we wish Christian, the U.S. Men’s National Team, and all our American friends the very best of luck. In fact, we hope the United States reaches the final — because then, no matter what happens, at least one Croat will be lifting the trophy. 😉🏆

📷 U.S. Soccer

🇭🇷⚽ What a wonderful day in Alexandria!

Yesterday, the Croatian national team opened its practice to the public, giving fans a special opportunity to welcome the Vatreni to their World Cup home away from home. Croatian Americans, local residents, and supporters from across the region came together to cheer on the team ahead of the tournament.

A special highlight of the day was Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins presenting an official proclamation recognizing the team’s presence in the city. We are grateful to Mayor Gaskins and the City of Alexandria for their warm hospitality and friendship.

The excitement on display was another reminder of the growing partnership between Croatia and Alexandria. What began with the Vatreni choosing Alexandria as their base camp is developing into a broader relationship built on culture, community, and people-to-people ties.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Igraj moja Hrvatska! 🔥🇭🇷

Zvuk tamburica i taktovi domoljubnih pjesama nakon prvog treninga u Alexandriji? 🎶

Ugodno iznenađenje Vatrenima priredio je tamburaški sastav Sveti Juraj iz Pennsylvanije, pod okriljem Hrvatske bratske zajednice! 🇭🇷

🟥⬜️ Svi članovi sviraju tamburu, pjevaju i plešu kolo odjeveni u izvorne hrvatske narodne nošnje, s ciljem očuvanja i prenošenja hrvatske kulture i nacionalnog identiteta među Hrvatima u Sjevernoj Americi.

❤️‍🔥