CroatiavsPanama

Croatia edged Panama 1–0. Goalscorers — Croatia: A. Budimir 54'.

Croatia met Panama in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Toronto Stadium in Toronto on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group L, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

Croatia go in ranked 11th in the FIFA World Ranking to Panama's 33rd — a gap of 22 places that gives Croatia the edge on paper. It is an inter-confederation meeting — Croatia of UEFA against Panama of CONCACAF — the kind of contrast in styles the World Cup exists to stage.

Croatia continue to defy expectations as one of the smallest nations to consistently compete at the highest level of international football. With a population of just four million, the Vatreni have produced an astonishing concentration of world-class talent and achieved results that far exceed what might be expected from a country of their size.

Panama's qualification for the 2018 World Cup was one of the most emotional moments in CONCACAF football history, with the entire nation erupting in celebration and the president declaring a national holiday. Los Canaleros have built on that achievement and established themselves as a competitive force in the region.

Croatia: Croatia reached the World Cup final in 2018 in Russia, losing to France 4-2, and finished third in 2022 in Qatar. Panama: Panama appeared at their first and only World Cup in 2018 in Russia, where they were drawn into a group with Belgium, England, and Tunisia.

The match is scheduled at Toronto Stadium in Toronto, Canada. Kickoff is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026 at 11:00 PM (07:00 PM ET).