Croatia kept its World Cup knockout round hopes alive with a 1-0 victory over Panama on June 23, 2026, eliminating the Central American side from the tournament. The match, played at a sold-out stadium in Toronto, saw Croatia dominate possession and create several scoring chances before finally breaking through in the second half.
Match details
The only goal of the game came in the 67th minute when Croatian midfielder Luka Modric curled a free kick into the box, where defender Josko Gvardiol rose highest to head the ball past Panama goalkeeper Jose Calderon. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Croatian fans in attendance, who had been growing anxious as the match remained scoreless.
Panama had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 82nd minute when a defensive mix-up allowed forward Ismael Diaz to break through one-on-one with Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, but Livakovic made a crucial save to preserve the lead. Croatia then held on through six minutes of stoppage time to secure the victory.
Group standings
The win moves Croatia to four points in Group F, level with second-placed Belgium, while Panama remains on one point and cannot advance to the knockout stage. Switzerland leads the group with six points after defeating Belgium 2-1 earlier in the day. Croatia's final group match is against Switzerland, with a win guaranteeing progression to the round of 16.
"We knew this was a must-win game, and the players showed great character to get the result," said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic after the match. "Now we focus on Switzerland, which will be like a final for us."
Panama's exit
For Panama, the loss ends a historic World Cup campaign that saw them earn their first-ever point in the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Belgium. Coach Thomas Christiansen praised his team's effort despite the elimination. "I am proud of how we competed against some of the best teams in the world," he said. "We have shown that Panama belongs on this stage."
The match drew a crowd of 45,000 fans at BMO Field, with many waving Croatian flags and wearing checkered jerseys. The atmosphere was electric, with both sets of fans creating a festival-like environment despite the high stakes.
