Ante Budimir scored the only goal of the match as Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 in their Group L clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Toronto Stadium on Tuesday, June 23. The victory lifted Croatia to three points in the standings, keeping their campaign on track after a 4-2 defeat to England in their opener.
Cagey First Half with Panama Threatening
The match began cautiously, with Panama organized and physical in midfield. Croatia struggled to create clear chances as Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic found little space against Panama's high press, which disrupted Croatia's passing rhythm.
Panama created the best chance of the first half in the 23rd minute. Jose Luis Rodriguez met a cross with a powerful header, but Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic produced a superb save to tip the effort onto the crossbar, keeping the score level at halftime.
Dalic's Tactical Change Pays Off
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic introduced Ante Budimir after the break to add more presence in attack. The substitution paid off quickly. In the 54th minute, a well-worked move down the right saw Josip Stanisic deliver a low cross into the box, which Budimir finished from close range at the far post to give Croatia the lead.
Livakovic Heroics Seal the Win
After falling behind, Panama pushed forward in search of an equalizer and created several dangerous moments. However, Livakovic was in outstanding form, making a series of crucial saves to deny the Panamanian attack, including a strong stop from a close-range header during a period of sustained pressure.
Croatia had chances to extend their lead on the counter-attack but could not find a second goal. Despite late pressure from Panama, they held firm defensively to secure all three points.
Group L Standings and Implications
The win takes Croatia to three points in Group L, while England and Ghana are tied for four points each. The result sets up an important final group-stage match for Croatia as they continue their push for qualification to the knockout rounds.
