Panama vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026: Preview, Prediction & Analysis
Panama vs Croatia World Cup 2026 has turned into a straight knockout. The Group L clash kicks off Tuesday, June 23 at 7:00 PM ET at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), and both teams arrive on zero points after losing their openers.
Croatia sit 11th in the FIFA ranking and Panama 33rd, but the table has erased that gap. England beat Croatia 4-2 and Ghana edged Panama 1-0 on June 17, leaving both sides bottom of the group and one defeat from going home.
The math is brutal. England and Ghana already have three points, so the loser in Toronto is almost certainly out before the final round. The group stage format offers a third place lifeline, but neither team can rely on it now.
Panama vs Croatia at a Glance:
| Date | June 23, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 7:00 PM ET |
| Group | Group L |
| Venue | Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto, Canada |
| Capacity | 45,736 |
| TV Channels | FOX (USA), Telemundo/Universo (Spanish USA) |
Panama vs Croatia World Cup 2026 Head-to-Head Record
Panama and Croatia have never met in a senior international. June 23 is the first page of this story, so there is no form guide, no grudge, and no past result for either side to lean on. Everything starts level in Toronto.
What they do share is a bad start. Croatia carry the bruises of a 4-2 loss to England, while Panama fell 1-0 to Ghana to a stoppage time goal. The Group L race now comes down to who recovers fastest from that opening blow.
World Cup Record Comparison
| Stat | Panama | Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA Ranking | 33rd | 11th |
| WC Appearances | 1 (2018) | 6 (1998–2022) |
| Best Finish | Group Stage | Runners-up (2018) |
| Last WC | 2018 (Group Stage) | 2022 (3rd Place) |
| WC Record (W-D-L) | 0-0-3 | 13-8-9 |
| Manager | Thomas Christiansen | Zlatko Dalić |
The gap in pedigree is huge. Croatia have played 30 World Cup matches across six tournaments, reaching the 2018 final and finishing third in 2022. Panama have one appearance to their name, the 2018 group stage, where they lost all three games and conceded 11 goals.
That experience is Croatia’s edge, yet it did not save them against England, and their golden generation is fading. Modrić is 40 and playing his fifth and final World Cup. Panama have a full week to regroup before both teams close the group on June 27, so the match schedule still has plenty left to give.
Panama Preview & Team News
Recent Form: L W D L D
| Date | Match | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | Ghana vs Panama | 1-0 L | World Cup |
| Mar 31, 2026 | South Africa vs Panama | 1-2 W | Friendly |
| Mar 27, 2026 | South Africa vs Panama | 1-1 D | Friendly |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Mexico vs Panama | 1-0 L | Friendly |
| Jan 18, 2026 | Bolivia vs Panama | 1-1 D | Friendly |
Panama were 90 minutes from a deserved point against Ghana before Caleb Yirenkyi struck deep into stoppage time. Christiansen’s side stayed compact and defended their box well, but they barely tested the Ghana goalkeeper. That late winner summed up Panama’s problem. Solid at the back, blunt up front.
The Manager: Thomas Christiansen has led Panama since 2020. The Danish Spanish coach drills a disciplined, organized side, and his long tenure shows in how rarely Panama lose their shape. Now he has to find a way to make them braver in attack.
Players to Watch: Adalberto Carrasquilla (Pumas UNAM) is the brain of this team. He played all 90 minutes against Ghana and is the man who turns defense into attack. If Croatia smother him, Panama struggle to build anything. Captain Aníbal Godoy (San Diego FC) sits alongside him and does the dirty work, breaking up play and protecting the back line at 36 years old.
José Córdoba (Norwich City) is Panama’s most important defender and the only Group L name plying his trade in English football. His pace and aerial strength will be tested by Croatia’s movement. Up front, José Fajardo (Universidad Católica) leads the line and must take whatever rare chances come his way. Panama cannot afford another blank.
How Panama Will Play: Christiansen used a back three against Ghana, with Murillo and Davis as wing backs and Godoy and Carrasquilla shielding the defense. Expect the same compact base, but Panama now have to chase the game. Set pieces and quick counters through Fajardo are their clearest routes to goal.
Croatia Preview & Team News
Recent Form: L L W W W
| Date | Match | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | England vs Croatia | 4-2 L | World Cup |
| Apr 1, 2026 | Brazil vs Croatia | 3-1 L | Friendly |
| Mar 26, 2026 | Colombia vs Croatia | 1-2 W | Friendly |
| Nov 17, 2025 | Montenegro vs Croatia | 2-3 W | WC Qualification |
| Nov 14, 2025 | Croatia vs Faroe Islands | 3-1 W | WC Qualification |
Croatia’s 4-2 defeat to England was a warning. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa found the net, so the attack worked, but the defense was carved open four times. Conceding that many is not the Croatia anyone expects, and Dalić knows the back line has to tighten or the tournament ends here.
The Manager: Zlatko Dalić has been in charge since October 2017 and is Croatia’s most successful coach ever, with a 2018 final and a 2022 third place behind him. He gambled on a young back three against England and got burned. For Panama he is set to revert to a back four and recall the experienced spine.
Players to Watch: Luka Modrić (AC Milan) is the heartbeat. At 40 he still dictates tempo, and Croatia look a different team when he has time on the ball. Joško Gvardiol (Manchester City) anchors the defense and must lead the cleanup after the England leak, using his pace and aerial control to settle a shaky unit.
Mateo Kovačić (Manchester City) is expected back in midfield to add legs and ball recovery around Modrić. Andrej Kramarić (Hoffenheim) offers the cutting edge, with Petar Musa (FC Dallas) pushing for a start after scoring against England. One of them has to convert the chances Croatia create.
How Croatia Will Play: Dalić is likely to return to a 4-3-3 and dominate the ball, building through Modrić and Kovačić and stretching Panama with Perišić wide. The questions are at the back. This experienced Croatia squad has the quality to win comfortably, but only if it stops gifting goals.
Predicted Lineups
Panama (3-4-3): Orlando Mosquera; Andrés Andrade, José Córdoba, Jiovany Ramos; Amir Murillo, Aníbal Godoy, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Éric Davis; José Luis Rodríguez, José Fajardo, Ismael Díaz
Croatia (4-3-3): Dominik Livaković; Josip Stanišić, Josip Šutalo, Joško Gvardiol, Martin Erlić; Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić, Mario Pašalić; Martin Baturina, Andrej Kramarić, Ivan Perišić
Lineups are predicted based on the opening round and team news. Official selections are confirmed about an hour before kick-off.
Key Factors That Could Decide the Match
Handling the Pressure: This is a do or die game for two teams that rarely play in this spot. Croatia have the experience to manage knockout tension, while Panama have nothing to lose. Whoever settles first will control the early tempo.
Modrić vs Panama’s Press: Give Modrić space and he will pick Panama apart. Carrasquilla and Godoy have to deny him time and force Croatia wide. Every second the captain gets on the ball is a second Croatia build something dangerous.
Croatia’s Fragile Defense: England scored four with relative ease. If Panama can spring Fajardo behind a high line, the chances will come. Gvardiol must organize a back four that looked nothing like its usual self in the opener.
Set Pieces: Panama are physical and well drilled at dead balls, and Croatia have looked vulnerable defending them. One delivery into a crowded box could swing a tight game. For an underdog chasing a result, that edge matters.
Panama vs Croatia World Cup 2026: Prediction & Analysis
Croatia have the better players and a midfield Panama cannot match for control. Back in a four man defense with Kovačić alongside Modrić, they should boss possession and create the cleaner chances. Their problem is not making them, it is stopping them at the other end.
Panama’s path is clear. Stay compact, frustrate Croatia, and strike on the counter or from a set piece. They were a stoppage time goal from a point against Ghana, so they are closer than the ranking suggests. The danger is that chasing the game leaves gaps for Croatia to exploit.
The likely outcome is a Croatia win that is tighter than the talent gap. Expect Panama to make it uncomfortable, but Croatia’s quality and need for points should tell over 90 minutes. A goal either side of half time settles it.
Our Prediction: Croatia 2-1 Panama
Croatia open the scoring through a midfield move and add a second after the break. Panama pull one back late to set up a nervous finish, but Croatia hold on to keep their tournament alive.
Panama vs Croatia FIFA World Cup 2026: FAQ
What time is Panama vs Croatia and where is it played?
Panama vs Croatia kicks off at 7:00 PM ET on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The Group L match is played at Toronto Stadium, also known as BMO Field, in Toronto, Canada.
What does each team need to reach the knockout stage?
Both teams lost their openers, so the loser here is almost certainly out. The winner moves level with the group leaders and keeps its fate in its own hands before the final round on June 27. A draw leaves both sides relying on other results.
How can I watch Panama vs Croatia in the USA?
FOX carries the match in English in the United States, with Telemundo and Universo showing it in Spanish. Both broadcasts also stream through the FOX Sports and Telemundo apps.
What were the scores in the opening Group L games?
England beat Croatia 4-2 and Ghana beat Panama 1-0 on June 17. England and Ghana sit on three points each, while Croatia and Panama are both still on zero.
Is Luka Modric playing for Croatia?
Yes. The 40 year old captain started the opener against England and is expected to lead the midfield again. This is his fifth and likely final World Cup.
What is the weather like in Toronto for the match?
Late June evenings in Toronto are usually warm, around the low 20s Celsius or low 70s Fahrenheit. The natural grass pitch at BMO Field tends to play fast in dry conditions.
Panama vs Croatia World Cup 2026 is the rare group game with knockout stakes, pitting CONCACAF grit against a wounded European heavyweight. Croatia’s class makes them favorites, but a second straight slip would be a disaster, and Panama have the organization to punish one.
See how the result reshapes the Group L standings once the final whistle blows in Toronto.
