Panama vs Croatia Budimir Seals It, Modrić Makes History

One goal. One historic moment. And Panama's World Cup dream is over.

Croatia did exactly what they had to do on Tuesday night at Toronto Stadium grind out a 1-0 win over Panama in a tight, tense Group L encounter that had both teams on the edge of elimination. The result wasn't pretty, but it was enough. And against the backdrop of Luka Modrić's 200th international cap, it carried a weight that went far beyond three points.

A Match Neither Side Could Afford to Lose

Coming in, the stakes could not have been clearer. Croatia had been hammered 4-2 by England on Matchday 1. Panama had lost 1-0 to Ghana, Caleb Yirenkyi breaking their hearts in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Both teams arrived at Toronto Stadium knowing that another defeat meant an early flight home.

Panama, known as Los Canaleros, were only playing in their second-ever men's World Cup. They had entered 2026 still searching for their first World Cup point across four all-time matches. The pressure on coach Thomas Christiansen was immense, made worse by the confirmed absence of key midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla, who missed the game due to a muscle injury and subsequent illness during recovery, as confirmed by Reuters the day before kickoff.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić made three changes from the England loss, bringing in Marin Pongračić, Mateo Kovačić and Marco Pašalić, and named Petar Musa up front instead of Andrej Kramarić. The full confirmed starting lineups, as reported by Reuters:

Modrić Steps Into History

Before a ball was kicked, this match already meant something beyond football. Luka Modrić, at 40 years old and wearing a protective mask after a pre-tournament facial injury, ran out for his 200th international appearance for Croatia becoming only the fourth male footballer in history to reach that milestone, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (230), Bader Al-Mutawa (202), and Lionel Messi (201), as tracked by ESPN's match statistics.

His teammate Josip Stanišić summed up what the moment meant inside the Croatian camp: "So far I can only dream of reaching a hundred caps, let alone 200," he told FIFA.com. "But Luka is a role model to all of us, for how to play for Croatia and how to carry yourself."

Dalić has led Modrić through two remarkable World Cup campaigns a runner-up finish in 2018 and third place in 2022. No one in the Croatian camp wanted his 200th cap to become a night to forget.

How the Goal Happened

The first half was tight, scrappy, and goalless. Panama was competitive and physical, pressing Croatia out of rhythm. Their clearest moment came in the 23rd minute when Michael Amir Murillo burst down the right and delivered a precise cross José Luis Rodríguez met it with a powerful header that Livaković did brilliantly to tip onto the crossbar. The chance was eventually waved off as the ball had crossed the byline in the build-up, but it showed exactly how dangerous Panama were on the break. Croatia's best moment in the opening 45 came in stoppage time when Martin Baturina unleashed a powerful long-range shot, only for Panama's goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera to make a sharp save and tip it past the post. Croatia were flat. Panama were threatening on the counter.

Dalić responded at halftime. Off came Petar Musa and Joško Gvardiol. On came Ante Budimir and Andrej Kramarić two players with more experience of pulling goals from nothing.

The change paid off almost immediately.

In the 54th minute, a move initiated by Marco Pašalić found Josip Stanišić charging to the byline down the right. His low cross swept across the face of goal and Budimir, arriving at the back post, turned it home from close range. Croatia 1, Panama 0. As confirmed by the FOX Sports box score.

Panama pushed hard in the final half-hour. Long balls, set pieces, bodies forward. Livaković was forced into a remarkable run of three saves in quick succession around the 68th minute, denying Murillo twice and Harvey once to preserve the lead, as reported by NBC News's live blog. Croatia protected the lead and saw out the clock.

Final score: Panama 0-1 Croatia. The FIFA match centre has the official record.

What This Means for Group L

The Panama vs Croatia national football team standings after Matchday 2 tell a story of a group that is still wide open at the top and completely closed at the bottom.

England and Ghana drew 0-0 in the earlier Matchday 2 kickoff, meaning both sit on four points. Croatia's win over Panama moved them to three points and kept their qualification hopes alive heading into a final-group-stage showdown with Ghana on June 27 at Philadelphia Stadium. As FOX Sports reported, Panama were mathematically eliminated after the result losing to Croatia while England avoided defeat against Ghana was the condition that sealed their exit, and both happened on the same night.

The FIFA Group L standings are official. Panama's third match, against England at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 27, will be played without any tournament consequence for Los Canaleros themselves.

Panama's World Cup Pain Continues

This is the quiet devastation in Tuesday's result. Panama, a nation of roughly four million people who only made their men's World Cup debut in 2018, have now played five World Cup matches across two tournaments without winning a single one or earning a single point.

They were not passive here. The Panamanian press and the FEPAFUT official preview framed this as a historic challenge the first-ever competitive meeting between the two nations, played on the biggest stage in football. Panama held their own for long stretches. Murillo was dangerous down the right. Fajardo led the line with energy. Without Carrasquilla in midfield, they lacked a playmaker capable of turning pressure into precision.

That gap between effort and end product is what has defined Panama's two World Cups so far. The individual quality exists at the back and in transition. The clinical touch in and around the box that is still the missing piece.

Croatia Still Alive, But Work to Do

Winning 1-0 with a halftime substitute is not the statement Croatia needed after conceding four to England. The Vatreni are through to Matchday 3 with everything still to play for, but they will need a sharper, more cohesive performance against Ghana if they want to reach the knockout rounds.

Their World Cup profile runners-up in 2018, third place in 2022, appearing at the World Cup for the seventh time speaks to a program built on resilience. But resilience only carries you so far. Croatia need their midfield to fire, their front line to click, and ideally Modrić to produce one last defining performance in what is widely regarded as his final World Cup.

Budimir showed that substitutes can change matches. The question for Dalić is whether his starting eleven without the creative spark of a fully fit squad can keep pace with a Ghana side that has already matched England point-for-point.

What Happens Next

The Group L finale on June 27 sets up a compelling double bill. Croatia face Ghana at Philadelphia Stadium at 5:00 p.m. ET, while England take on Panama at New York New Jersey Stadium at the same time, as listed on the official FIFA match schedule. For Croatia, the equation is clear: win against Ghana and they are guaranteed to advance, reaching six points and finishing no lower than second in the group. A draw still leaves them with a chance via the third-place wildcard, though it would depend on results elsewhere across all 12 groups. For Panama, it is a farewell match one final chance to earn that elusive first World Cup point against England's Three Lions.

For Modrić, there may be one more chapter left in this tournament. At 200 caps and counting, he has never stopped writing them.