Panama Vs Croatia Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026: Vatreni’s Ante Budimir Winner Eliminates Los Canaleros

Greetings, we are back with our FIFA World Cup 2026 live blog as Panama and Croatia face-off in the Group L match. The action is about to begin, so stay tuned for all the live updates from Toronto Stadium.

Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026™

Stage: Group Stage (Group L)

Kickoff Time: 7:00 PM local time (EDT) on June 23 / 4:30 AM IST on June 24

Venue: Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Referee: Pierre Atcho

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports network on television. For live streaming, one can catch the action on the Zee5 app and website.

England and Ghana played out a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate at Boston Stadium, with the resilient Black Stars successfully holding the Three Lions to a frustrating draw. While England pushed late for a breakthrough, Ghana's disciplined defensive display ensured they walked away with a crucial point from the Group L encounter.

Orlando Mosquera; Andres Andrade, Jose Cordoba, Jiovany Ramos; Cesar Blackman, Yoel Barcenas, Carlos Harvey, Amir Murillo; Jose Luis Rodriguez, Jose Fajardo, Cristian Martinez

SUBS: Luis Mejia, Fidel Escobar, Edgardo Farina, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Tomas Rodriguez, Ismael Diaz, Cesar Samudio, Eric Davis, Cecilio Waterman, Alberto Quintero, Anibal Godoy, Cesar Yanis, Azarias Londono, Roderick Miller, Jorge Gutierrez

Dominik Livakovic; Josko Gvardiol, Marin Pongracic, Josip Sutalo, Josip Stanisic; Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic; Martin Baturina, Marco Pasalic, Petar Musa

SUBS: Duje Caleta-Car, Nikola Moro, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir, Ivor Pandur, Nikola Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Petar Sucic, Kristijan Jakic, Toni Fruk, Igor Matanovic, Luka Sucic, Luka Vuskovic, Dominik Kotarski, Martin Erlic

The match is underway at Toronto Stadium! Referee Pierre Ghislain Atcho has sounded the opening whistle, and Croatia have kicked off as they look to secure their first points of the tournament in this high-stakes Group L showdown. All eyes are on Luka Modrić, who is marking a historic milestone today as he earns his 200th international cap.

The stakes could not be higher at Toronto Stadium, with both Panama and Croatia fully aware that defeat today results in immediate elimination from the tournament. With the weight of their World Cup ambitions resting on this result, both sides are prepared for a desperate, high-intensity battle to keep their knockout hopes alive.

Panama nearly capitalized on a lapse from Gvardiol, who was caught napping on the right flank. Murillo took full advantage, racing to the byline and firing a dangerous low cross across the face of the goal, but the delivery narrowly missed his teammates as no one could connect for the tap-in.

PANAMA GO CLOSE! Murillo once again proved a menace down the right, bursting forward before delivering a precise cut-back into the box. Rodriguez met the cross with a powerful header that Livakovic did brilliantly to tip onto the woodwork. However, the excitement was cut short as the referee signaled for a goal kick, ruling that the ball had crossed the byline during the build-up.

Croatia's play continues to look disjointed and imprecise. After opting to take a free-kick quickly 25 yards from goal, the move broke down immediately as Panama intercepted the short pass. Panama quickly transitioned the ball to Cristian Martínez down the right flank, though his final delivery into the box failed to find any teammates. It has been a frustratingly sloppy opening for Zlatko Dalić's side, who are clearly struggling to settle in at Toronto Stadium.

CROATIA TEST THE KEEPER! Croatia finally manage an attempt on target as Baturina creates space 25 yards out. He rifles a strike toward the near post, but Mosquera does well to react, diving to push the ball past the upright and maintain parity.

Panama and Croatia have reached the half-time break locked in a scoreless stalemate at Toronto Stadium.

In a tightly contested Group L match, Panama has looked particularly resilient and threatening on the counter-attack. Their best moment came in the 23rd minute when a dangerous cross from Michael Amir Murillo found José Luis Rodríguez, whose powerful header was brilliantly tipped onto the woodwork by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. Croatia struggled to find their rhythm for much of the half, though they finished the period strongly with a stinging long-range effort from Martin Baturina that forced a smart save from Orlando Mosquera in stoppage time.

Both sides are under significant pressure to secure a result, as a loss could leave either team on the brink of group-stage elimination.

Zlatko Dalić has opted for a double change at the break as Croatia look to inject some urgency into their attack, bringing on Ante Budimir for Petar Musa and Andrej Kramarić for Joško Gvardiol. The second half is now underway at Toronto Stadium with both sides desperate for the breakthrough.

Croatia look far more composed in possession as the second half progresses, nearly carving open the Panama defense; however, the chance goes begging as Ivan Perišić is unable to bring the ball under control.

GOAL! Croatia strike first!

Croatia have broken the deadlock thanks to a brilliant piece of play from Mario Pašalić, who flicked the ball perfectly into the path of Josip Stanišić on the right. Stanišić charged to the byline and fired a dangerous low cross across the face of the goal, finding substitute Ante Budimir, who coolly tapped it in at the back post. Panama 0-1 Croatia!

HUGE CHANCE WASTED! Croatia almost put the game to bed after a blistering counter-attack. Following a cleared Panama corner, Luka Modrić played a sublime ball through to Mario Pašalić, who found himself clean through on goal. Though his initial lob was smothered by Mosquera, the keeper spilled the ball back into Pašalić's path; however, the attacker failed to capitalize, skewing his follow-up effort high over the bar!

LIVAKOVIC DENIES PANAMA! The Croatia goalkeeper has produced an extraordinary sequence of saves to preserve the lead. After first thwarting Michael Amir Murillo's initial effort and his follow-up rebound, Livaković somehow reacted in time to tip a point-blank header from Harvey over the bar following the subsequent corner. It is a monumental defensive stand that keeps Panama at bay!

A special moment in Toronto Stadium. Luka Modric’s night comes to an end as the Croatia captain makes way for Mario Pasalic. The Real Madrid legend receives a standing ovation from the supporters as he walks off, a fitting tribute for one of football’s greatest midfielders.

That's a wrap from this match! You can now switch over to our Colombia vs DR Congo live blog for all the action. See you all there!