Croatia defeats Panama 1‑0 at World Cup, Budimir scores and Modrić marks 200th cap
Croatia earned a 1‑0 victory over Panama in the Group L match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at Toronto Stadium. Substitute striker Ante Budimir broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, finishing a low cross from right‑back Josip Stanišić.
The win gave Croatia three points, keeping them in contention for a top‑two finish that requires a win or draw against Ghana in the final group game. Panama, having lost its first two matches, were eliminated from the tournament.
The match also featured Luka Modrić’s 200th international appearance, a milestone celebrated by the Croatian side. Goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made several key saves, while Panama’s keeper Orlando Mosquera thwarted a second‑half effort from Marco Pasalic.
Croatia will aim to secure qualification in their next fixture, while Panama’s World Cup campaign ends after two narrow defeats.