At Toronto Stadium, Croatia secured their first three points of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama, boosting their hopes of advancing to the knockout round. The only goal of the match came from striker Ante Budimir after halftime, leaving Panama winless and eliminated from knockout contention despite a spirited, attack-heavy performance.
Both sides entered their second Group L fixture still searching for their first win of the tournament, and the night carried extra significance for Croatian legend Luka Modric, who made his 200th senior international appearance just days before his 41st birthday, in what is widely expected to be his fifth and final World Cup campaign.
Panama set up to frustrate Croatia from the opening whistle, deploying a compact deep block and looking to hit the European side on rapid counterattacks, particularly down the right flank through full-back Amir Murillo. Croatia dominated possession from the first minute, with Modric pulling the strings in midfield as expected. Just two minutes in, the playmaker rose to meet a cross from Marco Pasalic, but his header drifted just over the crossbar. Modric received a rapturous welcome from the crowd, with hundreds of fans in the stands displaying his name on shirts and banners to honor his milestone.
Murillo’s early deliveries tested Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic early on, with the keeper forced into a smart save to deny a Jose Luis Rodriguez header that clipped the top of the crossbar. The first half remained tightly contested, with Croatia holding the bulk of possession and territorial advantage but unable to break through a stubborn Panama defense marshaled by center-back Jose Cordoba. Panama held firm to keep the scoreline locked at 0-0 going into halftime, a result that left their defensive unit proud of their first-half work, while Croatia entered the break knowing they would need to increase their attacking edge after the restart.
The match also highlighted a standout trend of this 2026 tournament: the ongoing influence of veteran “golden oldies” at the top of the game. Alongside the 40-year-old Modric, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), 40-year-old Fernando Muslera (Uruguay), 40-year-old Manuel Neuer (Germany) and 40-year-old Edin Dzeko (Bosnia and Herzegovina) are all playing key roles for their national sides at this World Cup.
Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic made aggressive attacking substitutions to open the second half, withdrawing Josko Gvardiol and Petar Musa to bring on Andrej Kramaric and Budimir, who made an instant impact. In the 54th minute, Budimir broke the deadlock, slotting home a clinical finish from a pinpoint right-wing cross provided by Josip Stanisic, sending the Croatian fanbase in the stadium into wild celebrations.
Modric remained the heart of Croatian play throughout the second half, displaying his trademark vision and precision to control the tempo of the match, create attacking chances, and marshal his side’s midfield. When he was substituted in the 81st minute, he received a standing ovation from the entire stadium, and his teammates honored his milestone with special warm-up shirts emblazoned with the words “Infinite Legacy”.
Panama threw everything forward in the closing stages of the match, winning multiple corner kicks and pressing hard for an equalizer that would keep their knockout hopes alive. Despite their relentless effort and fighting spirit, they lacked the final cutting edge to break through a resolute Croatian defense, with Livakovic turning away all their dangerous attempts on goal.
When the final whistle blew, Croatia claimed a deserved three points that leaves them perfectly positioned in Group L. A win over Ghana in their final group fixture this coming Saturday will almost certainly secure their place in the round of 32. For Panama, the result confirms their elimination from knockout contention, but they can still turn their focus to their final group match against third-placed England, where they will look to end their campaign on a high note and pull off a surprise upset.