Croatia are third in Group L, with England and Ghana on 4 factors every, heading into the final spherical of matches.
Printed On 24 Jun 2026
Half-time substitute Ante Budimir scored within the 54th minute as Croatia eradicated Panama from World Cup competition with a tightly fought 1-0 victory at Toronto Stadium.
The Group L conflict on Tuesday noticed 34-year-old Budimir rating his first World Cup aim and fifth in a aggressive fixture for his nation.
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Croatia stay third within the group with three factors heading into the ultimate match day, however they’ll assure a top-two end with a victory over Ghana of their last match on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Panama are nonetheless looking for their first level, 5 matches into their World Cup historical past, having additionally lost 1-0 to Ghana of their 2026 opener in Toronto final week.
Nevertheless, regardless of taking part in the primary two matches with out injured talisman Adalberto Carrasquilla, Los Canaleros have a aim distinction six higher than at this stage of their first World Cup look in 2018.
Budimir put Croatia in entrance on what was simply their greatest assault of the match to that time on Tuesday.
Josip Stanisic mixed with Marco Pasalic to get down the suitable, after which struck a well-weighted cross to the highest of the 6-yard field.
Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera dived to attempt to intercept the service however couldn’t attain it, and Budimir confirmed up on the again submit to information in a composed end into an open aim.
With that, the match erupted for about quarter-hour.
Three minutes after the aim, Croatia captain Luka Modric performed Pasalic in alone on aim from his personal half. Mosquera sized up Pasalic and charged from his line on the proper time to smother the preliminary try, and Pasalic fired vast from a poor angle on the rebound.
Panama responded to drive Dominik Livakovic into three stops within a minute. The third was most likely one of the best, as Livakovic leapt to disclaim Carlos Harvey’s header from a nook lofted to the again submit.
The second-half hydration break adopted that sequence, and maybe disrupted Panama’s momentum, with Livakovic unthreatened within the last levels.
The Central People will now look to play spoilers in opposition to England of their finale on Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Earlier on Tuesday, England and Ghana settled for a 0-0 draw, with each having 4 factors.
