Croatia vs Portugal Round‑of‑16 in Toronto draws massive fan turnout

The 2026 World Cup round‑of‑16 match between Croatia and Portugal is set for 02 July 2026, 01:00 CET (midnight local time) at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić kept the same starting eleven that beat Gambia, leaving young centre‑back Joško Gvardiol on the bench despite his recent recovery from injury. The announced line‑up features Dominik Livaković, Stanišić, Šutalo, Pongračić, Perišić, Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Petar Sučić, Branimir Vlašić, Marko Baturina and Ivan Budimir.

Thousands of Croatian and Portuguese supporters have gathered in Toronto’s “Croatia House” and surrounding parks, despite an intense heat wave. Police have closed streets to manage crowds, firefighters spray water to keep fans cool, and drone flights over the stadium area are prohibited after several violations. Ticket resale prices on secondary markets range from roughly $2,300 to nearly $12,000.

Ahead of the game, former Croatian internationals – including Dejan Lovren and Aljoša Asanović – praised the team's discipline and urged patience, noting the importance of controlling the midfield battle versus Portugal’s star‑filled side led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Dalić emphasized that the match will be a test of concentration and aggression, with the winner set to face Spain in the quarter‑finals.