Croatia Edge Panama 1-0 to Keep World Cup 2026 Knockout Hopes Alive

Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in Group L Matchday 2 at BMO Field in Toronto <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>. As of June 24, 2026, Croatia sit on three points in the group after losing their opener 2-4 to England on Matchday 1 <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>. The result keeps their knockout-stage hopes alive heading into a decisive final group match.

This was a game Croatia had to win (as of June 24, 2026). Nothing else would do. And they delivered — tight, controlled, enough.

The Result

Croatia 1, Panama 0 (as of June 24, 2026). Away. Clean sheet <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>.

After conceding four against England, the defensive improvement was the story. Croatia held firm in Toronto and took the three points they needed to stay in the conversation.

Where Croatia Stand in Group L

Group L features England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>. Here is how the group picture looks after two matchdays:

England lead the group. Croatia need a result against Ghana to have any chance of advancing. A win would give them six points from three matches and a strong platform to qualify from the group <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>.

The other Matchday 3 fixture is Panama vs England on June 27 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The Squad Behind the Result

Coach Zlatko Dalić named a 26-player squad for the tournament. This is a group built across Europe's top leagues, with a handful of players based in the Americas.

The midfield remains the engine. Luka Modrić, now at AC Milan, has logged 174 NT minutes in the last 12 months with 1 goal across 5 appearances. Martin Baturina, playing at Como in Serie A, leads the squad with 194 NT minutes and 1 goal in the same window. Petar Šućić at Inter and Mario Pašalić at Atalanta provide further depth (as of June 24, 2026).

The concern is Mateo Kovačić. His club season at Manchester City produced just 307 minutes across 11 appearances. At NT level, he has 103 minutes in the last 12 months — only 2 caps. For a player who has been central to Croatia's midfield identity for years, that is a limited runway heading into the biggest match of the group stage (as of June 24, 2026).

Up front, Petar Musa at FC Dallas has been prolific at club level — 24 goals and 8 assists in 47 appearances over the last 12 months. Ante Budimir at Osasuna adds 18 club goals, and Igor Matanović at SC Freiburg brings 15. The goals are there in domestic football. Converting that to the World Cup stage is the next step (as of June 24, 2026).

At the back, Joško Gvardiol at Manchester City is the anchor — 239 NT minutes, 3 caps, and 1,931 club minutes in the last 12 months. Josip Stanišić at Bayern München has been the most active defender with 238 NT minutes and an impressive 3,151 club minutes across 43 appearances. Josip Šutalo at Ajax and Marin Pongračić at Fiorentina round out the central defensive options (as of June 24, 2026).

In goal, Dominik Livaković has started 5 of the last 12 months' fixtures, logging 261 minutes. Dominik Kotarski at FC Copenhagen and Ivo Pandur at Hull City are the backups (as of June 24, 2026).

Recent Form: A 12-Month Picture

Croatia's record over their last 11 matches reads 7 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses — 21 goals scored, 14 conceded (as of June 24, 2026).

The wins came against Montenegro (twice), Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Colombia, Slovenia, and now Panama. The losses: a draw with Czechia aside, defeats to Brazil, Belgium, and England.

The pattern is clear. Croatia handle mid-tier opposition well. Against top-level teams, they have been leaky. Four conceded against England in the opener underlined that vulnerability.

The clean sheet against Panama is a correction. Whether it holds against Ghana will determine their tournament.

What June 27 Means

Croatia vs Ghana. Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. June 27 <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>.

A win almost certainly sends Croatia through. A draw might not be enough depending on the England-Panama result. A loss and the World Cup is over.

For a squad built around a generation that reached the 2018 final and the 2022 semifinal, this is likely the last dance for several key players. Modrić, Perišić, Kovačić — they know what a knockout round looks like. Getting there one more time starts in Philadelphia.

When does Croatia play their next World Cup 2026 match?

Croatia face Ghana on June 27, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>. It is the final Group L matchday.

What was the score in Croatia vs Panama?

Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in their Group L Matchday 2 fixture at BMO Field in Toronto <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>.

How can Croatia qualify from Group L?

Croatia need a result against Ghana on Matchday 3. A win would give them six points from three matches and a strong path to the knockout round <a href="/matches/panama-vs-croatia/" rel="cite noopener" target="_blank" class="mt-citation" title="Match centre vs Panama — official record" data-access-date="2026-06-24T04:43:47.646Z">Match centre vs Panama — official record</a>. Their Matchday 1 loss to England (2-4) means they cannot afford another defeat (as of June 24, 2026).

Who are Croatia's key players at the World Cup 2026?

Luka Modrić leads from midfield with 174 NT minutes and 1 goal in the last 12 months. Martin Baturina has the most NT minutes in the squad at 194. In attack, Petar Musa has scored 24 club goals in the same window. Joško Gvardiol anchors the defense from Manchester City (as of June 24, 2026).

What is Croatia's recent form heading into the Ghana match?

Croatia have won 7, drawn 1, and lost 3 of their last 11 matches, scoring 21 and conceding 14. They beat Panama 1-0 on Matchday 2 after losing 2-4 to England on Matchday 1.

See the projected squad
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