Panama Vs Croatia: Croatia Survive Panama Scare to Keep World Cup Hopes Alive
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Croatia edged past Panama 1-0 in Toronto on Tuesday to claim their first win of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with substitute Ante Budimir proving the difference in a tense, low-scoring Group L clash.
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The result eliminates Panama from knockout contention after two straight defeats, while Croatia breathe new life into their tournament with a decisive final group game against Ghana still to come.
The goal that changed everything
The match was tight and largely uneventful through the first half, with neither side creating much of note. Croatia broke the deadlock nine minutes into the second half when Josip Stanisic delivered a precise cross to the far post and Budimir, who had come on as a substitute, tapped home with a composed finish.
It was the kind of goal that looked simple but required the right movement and the right delivery at exactly the right moment.
Panama pushed hard in the closing stages, pouring forward in search of an equalizer, but Croatia held firm to secure all three points.
What the result means for Group L
Croatia move to three points and, according to projections from The Athletic, now hold a 95 percent chance of reaching the knockout stage. Their fate rests on the final group game against Ghana, who were held to a draw by England in the earlier Group L fixture on Tuesday. Both England and Ghana sit on four points heading into the final round.
| Team | Played | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2 | 4 | +3 |
| Ghana | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Croatia | 2 | 3 | -2 |
| Panama | 2 | 0 | -2 |
Panama are now the fifth team eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. They have yet to score a single goal across both group games, having also missed a late opportunity against Ghana in their opener.
Croatia’s rocky road to this point
Croatia came into this match under real pressure. Their opening game against England ended in a 4-2 defeat, with Martin Baturina and Petar Musa both scoring but ultimately unable to prevent a convincing English win. That result left Croatia needing a response, and while Tuesday’s performance was far from polished, the three points were what mattered.
Budimir’s cameo off the bench gave manager Zlatko Dalic exactly what he needed when the game was crying out for a moment of quality.
What comes next
Croatia’s World Cup survival now depends entirely on their final group game against Ghana. A win would almost certainly confirm their place in the knockout rounds. Ghana, sitting level on points with England, will be fighting for top spot in the group, making the fixture a genuine contest with plenty at stake on both sides.
Panama, meanwhile, head home having contributed little in front of goal across the tournament. For a side that qualified with hopes of causing an upset, two defeats without a goal scored is a difficult way to exit.
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