Croatia beats Panama 1‑0 to keep World Cup hopes alive

Croatia secured a 1‑0 victory over Panama in their World Cup group match thanks to a second‑half substitute strike by Ante Budimir. The goal, coming nine minutes after the break, preserved Croatia’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage, while the loss eliminated Panama from the tournament.

Panama’s coach, Thomas Christiansen, expressed disappointment that his side failed to score despite a solid performance, and highlighted the experience gained for his players as they look toward future opportunities.

The result leaves Croatia needing a point against Ghana in their final group game, whereas Panama’s World Cup campaign ends after two defeats.