Ante Budimir's 54th-minute goal gave Croatia a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Toronto Stadium on Tuesday. The win keeps Croatia's knockout-stage hopes alive while eliminating Panama, who suffered their second consecutive 1-0 defeat.
Match Overview
Croatia dominated possession but struggled to break down a disciplined Panama defense in the first half. The game remained scoreless at halftime, with both teams managing just one shot on target each. Luka Modric made history by earning his 200th international cap, becoming only the fourth man to reach that milestone.
The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Marco Pasalic played a clever through ball to Josip Stanisic, who crossed to the far post for Budimir to slam home with his torso. Panama pushed for an equalizer but were unable to find a way past Dominik Livakovic, who made several key saves.
Key Moments
- 54th minute: Ante Budimir scores for Croatia, assisted by Josip Stanisic and Marco Pasalic.
- 23rd minute: Dominik Livakovic saves a header from Jose Luis Rodriguez, pushing the ball onto the crossbar.
- 68th minute: Livakovic makes a double save to deny Panama's corner-kick sequence.
Group L Standings
After the match, Group L standings are: 1) England (4 points, +2 GD), 2) Ghana (4 points, +1 GD), 3) Croatia (3 points, -1 GD), 4) Panama (0 points, -2 GD). Croatia's victory lifts them to third in the third-placed teams ranking, with eight third-place teams advancing to the Round of 32.
Modric's Landmark Day
Luka Modric received a special shirt from his teammates commemorating his 200th cap, with the words "Infinite Legacy" printed on it. The 40-year-old midfielder was substituted in the 81st minute to a loud ovation. Modric's first cap came on March 1, 2006, in a friendly against Argentina that also featured a young Lionel Messi scoring his first international goal.
Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalic made two halftime substitutions, bringing on Budimir and Andrej Kramaric for Josko Gvardiol and Petar Musa, which proved decisive. Panama, who had lost their opener 1-0 to Ghana, are now eliminated after two narrow defeats.
