Ante Budimir scored the only goal as Croatia defeated Panama 1-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match at Toronto Stadium on June 23. The result eliminated Panama after two straight losses while giving Croatia three points and a path to the round of 16 ahead of their final group fixture. According to FIFA match reports, the encounter featured a dominant first-half display by Panama before Croatia asserted control after the interval.
The Emirates News Agency detailed how substitute Budimir converted a low cross from Josip Stanisic in the 54th minute to hand Croatia the lead they would not relinquish. Panama threatened early and nearly broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Dominik Livakovic tipped Jose Luis Rodriguez’s powerful header onto the crossbar. The first half remained goalless as Croatia weathered the pressure and began to find rhythm toward the break.
FIFA statistics showed Croatia improving markedly after halftime with increased possession and attacking intent that led directly to the decisive goal. Stanisic delivered an accurate ball from the right flank that Budimir met at the far post for a simple finish. The victory came as Luka Modric earned his 200th international cap, a milestone that made him the first Croatian to reach the landmark according to national team records.
ESPN reported that the loss confirmed Panama’s exit from the tournament following an opening 1-0 defeat to Ghana. Croatia had begun their campaign with a 4-2 loss to England yet responded with a resilient performance that kept their progression hopes alive against a determined Panamanian side. Attendance at the venue reached 43,036 spectators as documented in official tournament figures.
Dominik Livakovic produced several important saves in the second half to maintain Croatia’s clean sheet amid late pressure from Panama. Thomas Christiansen’s team pushed for an equalizer but struggled to penetrate a well-organized Croatian defense anchored by experienced players. The match highlighted the narrow margins in Group L where both sides entered seeking their first points of the competition.
Croatia have now featured in the FIFA World Cup six times with three podium finishes including their runner-up position in 2018, per FIFA historical data. This hard-fought win in Toronto reinforced their reputation for securing results in competitive fixtures at the global stage. The outcome sets up a pivotal final group match for Croatia against Ghana with advancement still within reach.
