For a small Balkan nation, Croatia has a huge, beating football heart. And few places outside of the country’s borders amplify that love for the mighty soccer nation more than Toronto. As much as all three World Cup games played in the city thus far have brought incredible energy and atmosphere, Tuesday’s Panama-Croatia clash may be tough to beat on the fan experience scale.
Croatian Diaspora in Toronto Ready to Roar
The loyal Croatian community in the region — said to be the largest in North America — will be out in numbers and full volume, most clad in the red and white checkered attire emblematic of their country. It is estimated that some 120,000 people of Croatian descent live in the Greater Toronto Area, a passionate and patriotic group who love their soccer.
“For us, the support is very precious,” Croatian coach Zlatko Dalic said at his Match Day minus-1 press conference on Monday at Toronto Stadium. “We have a lot of Croatian people in Canada and they can’t wait to see the match. I want to thank them for the support. It’s a big thing for them and for us being in Toronto. We expect great support from the fans. We really expect them to be our 12th man and we will do our best to support them.”
Must-Win for Croatia After Opening Loss
The Croatians, one of the most accomplished participants based on their past two World Cup results, are in desperate need of a win after falling 4-2 to England in their opener. Dalic railed at his team after that one, criticizing some shoddy defence in the late-going, creating Tuesday’s must-win. The Checkered Ones entered the tournament amid huge expectations based on their previous appearances in the global showcase, finishing third at Qatar in 2022 and surprise runner-ups four years earlier in Russia.
“We are to be blamed for this because we have lifted the standard up to these heights,” Dalic said. “For a country as small as Croatia is, we are respected by the entire world. We have set the goal high for ourselves by two medals, but we are aware of the pressure. We know we have high expectations from our fans and our country but from ourselves as well. The second place and third place is history, that’s something that is behind us. Every match is a chance to prove yourself.”
Historic Croatian Soccer Roots in Toronto
For a time, Toronto Croatia was one of the most prominent soccer clubs in the country, one with a long, proud history and presence in Canada’s largest city. Founded in 1956, Toronto Croatia competed in a variety of professional leagues, and accumulated numerous championships including a Toronto Metros-Croatia Soccer Bowl title in 1976, crowning them champions of the North American Soccer League. The history runs long and deep and in many ways will manifest itself in the Group L clash near the Toronto lakefront.
FIFA officials are anticipating a massive onslaught of Croatian support and are advising fans to show up early for the 7 p.m. kickoff. Multiple parades to the stadium area are expected, including one Croatian march that could be 10,000 strong and will include a 100-metre-long flag.
Electric Atmosphere Expected at Toronto Stadium
Will this be the most electric Toronto atmosphere yet? It will be difficult to top the buzz of the opening game here — the thrill of a first World Cup contest to be played in the country mixed with the patriotic pride of supporting Canada in its 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina was a scene. In fact, all three games in Toronto have been played in an electric atmosphere, a sensational spectator experience for those in the city. Ghana vs. Panama was colourful and lyrical, even in the rain as the African nation pulled out a late 1-0 win against their Central American counterpart. The most recent featured the top-ranked team to visit here in Group play, Germany, with its thrilling, come-from-behind win over Ivory Coast.
The Panamanians will be out in full force again — just as they were in their first Toronto appearance — but we’re expecting the Croatian contingent to be dominant. In any event, the two will combine to light up the stadium for the fourth of six matches played here.
As much as the German visit featured the highest-ranked team to play in Canada during group play, the Croatians arrive with the most accomplished recent World Cup form. They’ll also be led by their beloved captain, Luka Modric, the 40-year-old legend both in his homeland and with iconic Serie A franchise AC Milan, a giant of the sport who will be a huge draw for its voluminous Canadian fan base.
