Croatia secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama on Tuesday in Toronto, keeping their hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. The only goal of the match came in the 54th minute when Josip Stanišić delivered a well-curved cross to Ante Budimir, who tapped the ball into an open net. The result leaves Croatia with three points in Group L ahead of their final group match against Ghana on Saturday, while Panama was eliminated from contention.
The match was played in front of a crowd of 43,000, largely supporting the Croatian side. Panama, making their second consecutive World Cup appearance, displayed a disciplined defensive effort under coach Thomas Christiansen’s guidance but struggled to convert opportunities. Croatia’s goalkeeper Dominik Livaković was called into action multiple times, particularly in the 67th minute, when he made a series of impressive saves to deny Panama a potential equalizer.
Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalić acknowledged the difficulty of the match, noting the pressure his team faced in securing the necessary three points. “We didn’t react the best, perhaps due to the pressure because we really needed these three points,” he said. Meanwhile, Panama’s Christiansen expressed pride in his players’ performance despite the elimination, emphasizing the progress made by the squad through their World Cup appearances. “You cannot win a match if you don’t score,” Christiansen noted, adding that his players would benefit from the experience gained in these two matches.
One of the standout moments of the match was the milestone appearance of Luka Modrić, Croatia’s captain and 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, who earned his 200th international cap. Modrić, 40, was honored by his teammates who wore shirts commemorating the occasion featuring his image and the number “200” stylized as an infinity symbol. After the match, Dalić described Modrić as a humble leader and a “born leader” who inspires without imposing, highlighting his importance to the team both on and off the pitch.
Panama’s best chance came in the first half when Jose Luis Rodriguez’s header was saved by Livaković, who also denied Marco Pašalić’s breakaway attempt shortly after Croatia’s goal. Despite Panama’s efforts, the team remained goalless in the tournament heading into their final group game against England on Friday.
The Group L standings are tightly contested, with England and Ghana both sitting on four points and Croatia on three. England is set to play Panama in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while Ghana will meet Croatia in Philadelphia on Saturday, with the final group positions and knockout stage qualification hanging in the balance.