TORONTO — Croatia kept their World Cup hopes alive and kicking with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama at BMO Field. The narrow win positions the 2018 finalists beautifully for a spot in the knockout round, while officially ending Panama’s journey in the 2026 tournament.
Budimir Breaks the Deadlock
After a tentative and scoreless first half, the breakthrough arrived in the 54th minute. Croatian striker Ante Budimir found the back of the net, turning home a brilliant, pinpoint cross from full-back Josip Stanisic.
While Panama pushed hard and actually outshot Croatia—with the final field tilt remaining remarkably even—Croatia’s clinical edge and higher expected goals (xG) ultimately justified the slender margin.
Modric’s Milestone Moment
Beyond the crucial three points, the night belonged to Croatian maestro Luka Modric. The midfielder celebrated his landmark 200th international cap for his country, a feat honored by his teammates who hoisted him into the air during pre-match celebrations.
Modric backed up the romance with trademark efficiency on the pitch. In what was his 21st career World Cup appearance—trailing only Lionel Messi (28) and Cristiano Ronaldo (24) since his 2006 debut—the veteran completed 69 of 78 passes (88% accuracy). Impressively, Modric has now maintained an 80%+ passing accuracy in all 19 of his career World Cup starts.
The Group L Outlook
The result dramatically shifts the landscape of Group L, giving Croatia a projected 95% chance of progressing to the Round of 32.
- Croatia’s Next Step: They face Ghana in their final group match, where a draw will virtually guarantee them a knockout spot. A loss, however, could still trigger elimination.
- Panama’s Heartbreak: Panama becomes the fifth team eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. They also join an unwanted historical club, becoming only the sixth team in tournament history to lose their first five career World Cup matches (spanning 2018 to 2026)—a list dominated heavily by CONCACAF nations, including recent 2026 departures like Haiti.