Panama vs Croatia prediction.Panama and Croatia — both pointless after Match Day 1 defeats — meet at BMO Field, Toronto on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 (01:00 SAST (Wednesday, 24 June 2026)). England beat Croatia 4-2; Ghana beat Panama 1-0 in the 95th minute. Modrić wins his 200th cap. Croatia revert to a 4-man defensive line. Our prediction: Croatia to win.Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Group L, Match Day 2 |
| Date & kick-off | Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 01:00 SAST (Wednesday, 24 June 2026) |
| Venue | BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Group L standings | After Match Day 1: England 3pts, Ghana 3pts, Croatia 0pts, Panama 0pts |
| Stakes | Another defeat for either side makes knockout qualification near-impossible |
| Where to watch | DSTV/GOTV |
Croatia’s 200th-cap redemption vs Panama’s fighting spirit
Croatia’s 4-2 defeat to England was one of the tournament’s most dramatic early results. A frantic first half saw Harry Kane open the scoring from the spot, Martin Baturina equalise for Croatia, Kane strike again, and Petar Musa level it at 2-2 just before half-time. The second half saw Croatia fall apart completely — Bellingham scored 90 seconds after the restart and Rashford sealed it in the 85th minute. Zlatko Dalić has since confirmed he is abandoning the experimental system used against England and reverting to a traditional 4-man defensive line. Ante Budimir starts up front in place of Musa.
The occasion carries additional weight: Luka Modrić will win his 200th international cap for Croatia, joining an elite group of players to reach that milestone. He will be determined to mark the occasion with the performance and result that keeps their World Cup alive. At 40, this is almost certainly his final tournament.
Panama’s 1-0 defeat to Ghana was heartbreaking. A disciplined and compact defensive display for 95 minutes unravelled in the fifth minute of stoppage time when a low cross from Brandon Thomas-Asante allowed Caleb Yirenkyi to bundle home the winner. Coach Thomas Christiansen is expected to retain the bulk of his starting lineup despite the defeat, with the side’s defensive organisation remaining the foundation of their approach.
Team news and expected line-ups
Croatia: Reverting to 4-man defence. Budimir starts up front instead of Musa. Modrić and Kovačić/Sučić in the double pivot. Baturina, Perišić, Pasalić in advanced roles.
Panama: Carrasquilla 26A0 AVAILABILITY CONFLICT 2014 listed in KE XI but reported OUT injured vs Ghana. Mosquera in goal. Godoy in midfield. D00EDaz and Waterman up front.
Predicted XIs below are from the KE source article. Update once confirmed XIs released before kick-off. URGENT: confirm Carrasquilla status.
| Panama (4-4-2) | Croatia (4-2-3-1) |
| Mosquera (GK) | Livakovic (GK) |
| Blackman (RB) | Sutalo (RB) |
| Ramos (CB) | Vuskovic (CB) |
| Cordoba (CB) | Gvardiol (CB) |
| Murillo (LB) | Stanisic (LB) |
| Godoy (RM) | Modric (DM) |
| Carrasquilla (CM) | Kovacic/Sucic (DM) |
| Rodriguez (CM) | Baturina (RM) |
| Barcenas (LM) | Pasalic (AM) |
| Diaz (ST) | Perisic (LM) |
| Waterman (ST) | Budimir (ST) |
Availability
| Player | Status |
| Adalberto Carrasquilla (Panama) | highly unlikely to start the game, as his physical availability remains a major uncertainty |
| Petar Musa (Croatia) | DROPPED — Budimir starts up front. Musa expected on bench. |
Key stats
- Croatia: lost 4-2 to England in their Group L opener. Baturina and Musa scored; defensive collapse in the second half.
- Croatia: ranked 11th in the world by FIFA. 2018 World Cup finalists, 2022 third-place finishers.
- Luka Modrić: wins his 200th international cap in this match. 40 years old. Final World Cup.
- Croatia: Dalić abandoning experimental system; returning to 4-man defensive line.
- Ante Budimir: starts up front in place of Petar Musa.
- Panama: lost 1-0 to Ghana via a 95th-minute winner from Caleb Yirenkyi.
- Panama: ranked 34th in the world. 27 places below Croatia.
- Panama form (last 5): W D L W L — consistent pattern of wins and near-misses.
- Adalberto Carrasquilla: availability conflict — see table above.
- H2H: first ever meeting between Panama and Croatia in any fixture.
- Group L standings (after Match Day 1): England 3pts, Ghana 3pts, Croatia 0pts, Panama 0pts.
Head-to-head
Panama and Croatia have never previously met in any fixture — competitive or friendly. This World Cup Group L match is the first ever encounter between the two nations.
Current form
| Team | Last 5 (inc. WC opener) |
| Croatia | W D L W L — beat Slovenia 2-1; beat Colombia (confirm); lost 2-0 to Belgium; lost 4-2 to England (WC) |
| Panama | W D L W L — 4-2 vs Dominican Republic; 1-1 vs Bosnia; lost 1-0 to Ghana (WC) |
Our prediction
Croatia hold a significant quality advantage on paper. Their ranking, their squad depth, the motivation of Modrić’s 200th cap, and Dalić’s tactical reset all point towards a more disciplined and effective performance than the England collapse. Baturina’s creativity, Perišić’s experience, and Budimir’s aerial ability give them the tools to break down a Panama defence that was eventually undone by Ghana.
Panama will not capitulate easily. Their disciplined defensive block kept Ghana at bay for 95 minutes and they have the organisation and counter-attacking threat to make this match genuinely competitive. But Croatia’s individual quality — especially in midfield where Modrić and Kovačić can control the tempo — should ultimately prove decisive.
Our prediction: Croatia to win.
Odds and markets
Odds correct at 0100Hrs UTC on 24/06/2026 .
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the Panama vs Croatia event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions.
What time does Panama vs Croatia kick off?
Kick-off is at 01:00 SAST (Wednesday, 24 June 2026) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, at BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
What happened in Croatia’s first match at World Cup 2026?
Croatia lost 4-2 to England in their Group L opener. The match was level at 2-2 at half-time after Martin Baturina and Petar Musa scored for Croatia, but a disastrous second half saw Bellingham and Rashford seal the win for England. Dalić is now reverting to a 4-man defensive line.
What happened in Panama’s first match at World Cup 2026?
Panama lost 1-0 to Ghana in their Group L opener despite defending well for nearly the entire match. Caleb Yirenkyi bundled home a low cross from Brandon Thomas-Asante in the 95th minute to break Panamanian hearts with a devastating last-gasp winner.
How many caps does Luka Modrić have?
Luka Modrić will win his 200th international cap for Croatia in this match, joining an elite group of players to reach that milestone. At 40 years old, this is widely expected to be his final World Cup tournament.
Have Panama and Croatia ever played before?
No. Panama and Croatia have never met in any fixture — competitive or friendly. This World Cup Group L match is the first ever encounter between the two nations.
What group are Panama and Croatia in at World Cup 2026?
Both sides are in Group L alongside England and Ghana. After Match Day 1, England and Ghana are both on three points, while Panama and Croatia are yet to score a point.
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