Panama vs Croatia | Group L, Matchday 13 | Tuesday 23 June 2026, 19:00 local (23:00 BST) | BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
Live on BBC / iPlayer in the UK
Group L standings after Matchday 1:
1. England — P1 W1 D0 L0 GD +2 Pts 3
2. Ghana — P1 W1 D0 L1 GD +1 Pts 3
3. Panama — P1 W0 D0 L1 GD -1 Pts 0
4. Croatia — P1 W0 D0 L1 GD -2 Pts 0
What’s at Stake
Both Panama and Croatia head into Matchday 2 with zero points after opening defeats, which transforms this fixture into something close to a knockout match. A defeat for either side would leave them needing a miracle combination of results on the final matchday; a win, by contrast, keeps realistic qualification hopes alive. With England and Ghana each claiming three points on Matchday 1, any side that loses in Toronto will almost certainly need to win and rely on favours elsewhere, making this one of the most consequential Group L games of the round.
Verdict
Croatia carry far greater World Cup pedigree into this fixture and, despite their opening loss to England, possess the quality to overcome a Panama side still searching for its first-ever World Cup point. Croatia to win at 4/7 is the headline selection, with the gap in squad depth and tournament experience between these two sides justifying backing the Croatians even at relatively short odds.
Panama vs Croatia Match Preview
Panama are appearing at only their second World Cup, having exited at the group stage in 2018 without a point. Their defeat to Ghana in the opener, while disappointing, was narrow (0-1), and Thomas Christiansen’s side showed some defensive resilience before running out of ideas in attack. Captain Aníbal Godoy anchors a workmanlike midfield, but Panama’s attacking options are limited against quality European opposition, and they are yet to score a goal at this tournament.
Croatia arrive at BMO Field in a very different kind of pressure. Zlatko Dalic’s side have been to the final in 2018 and claimed third place in 2022, so a group-stage exit would be a significant underperformance. Their 2-4 defeat to England on Matchday 1 was alarming in how open they were, yet they did manage two goals, suggesting there is still attacking intent in this squad even if the defensive shape remains unreliable. For a team containing Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic, and Martin Baturina, this is very much a match they should be capable of winning.
The contest hinges on whether Panama can frustrate Croatia’s midfield engine long enough to stay in the game, or whether Dalic’s side find their rhythm quickly. Croatia’s qualifying campaign, which produced seven wins and one draw from eight matches, underlines that they are capable of efficient, controlled performances, even if their Matchday 1 display suggested some vulnerability at the back. Panama will look to stay compact and hit on the counter, as they did during a CONCACAF qualifying run of five wins and three draws without a defeat.
Team Form
Panama — last five results:
Ghana (N): Lost 0-1 (FIFA World Cup)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (N): Drew 1-1 (Friendly)
Dominican Republic (H): Won 4-2 (Friendly)
Brazil (A): Lost 2-6 (Friendly)
South Africa (A): Won 2-1 (Friendly)
Panama’s pre-tournament friendlies offered a mixed picture. The 4-2 win over Dominican Republic was encouraging, though the opposition was modest. A 2-6 thrashing by Brazil laid bare the gulf that can exist between Panama and top-level opposition, and the narrow 0-1 defeat to Ghana in their World Cup opener continued a pattern of battling but ultimately falling short against better-organised teams.
Croatia — last five results:
England (A): Lost 2-4 (FIFA World Cup)
Slovenia (H): Won 2-1 (Friendly)
Belgium (H): Lost 0-2 (Friendly)
Brazil (N): Lost 1-3 (Friendly)
Colombia (N): Won 2-1 (Friendly)
Croatia’s recent form is inconsistent: wins over Slovenia and Colombia sandwiched defeats to Belgium and Brazil before the World Cup. The 2-4 loss to England on Matchday 1 was Croatia’s heaviest defeat in the group stage for some time, but it came against a strong England side. Dalic will demand a response against Panama, and the underlying quality of this squad suggests they are capable of delivering one.
Team News
Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen has named his starting XI. Orlando Mosquera starts in goal behind a back three of Amir Murillo, César Blackman, and Andrés Andrade. José Córdoba and Jiovany Ramos operate as wing-backs, with Carlos Harvey and Édgar Yoel Bárcenas providing the central midfield base. José Fajardo, Cristian Martínez, and José Luis Rodríguez make up the front three. Notable absentees from the confirmed XI include Ismael Diaz, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Aníbal Godoy, Alberto Quintero, and Cecilio Waterman.
Croatia have also confirmed their starting lineup. Dominik Livakovic retains his place in goal. The back four consists of Josip Stanisic, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Josip Sutalo, with Marin Pongracic alongside them. Marco Pasalic and Luka Modric start in midfield, with Martin Baturina in the attacking midfield role. Petar Musa leads the line and Ivan Perisic starts on the flank. Notably, Andrej Kramaric does not feature in the confirmed starting XI.
Confirmed Lineups
Panama (3-4-3) — Confirmed Starting XI: Mosquera; Murillo, Blackman, Andrade; Córdoba, Ramos, Harvey, Bárcenas; Fajardo, Martínez, Rodríguez
Lineups confirmed.
Croatia (4-2-3-1) — Confirmed Starting XI: Livakovic; Stanisic, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Sutalo; Pongracic, M. Pasalic; Modric, Baturina, Perisic; Musa
Lineups confirmed.
Key Tactical Matchup
The contest that is most likely to decide the result is Luka Modric and Marco Pasalic against Panama’s midfield block of Carlos Harvey and Édgar Yoel Bárcenas. Croatia’s central midfield pair bring an enormous amount of quality and experience at this level: Modric has 198 caps and 29 international goals, while Pasalic offers relentless energy alongside him. Panama’s midfield will need to work hard to stay compact, but Croatia’s technical quality in tight spaces is on a different level. If Modric and Pasalic are allowed to dictate tempo, Croatia should control possession and create the openings that Petar Musa and the forward line need to end Panama’s resistance.
Best Bets
Main Pick: Croatia to Win — 4/7
Croatia’s squad quality, World Cup experience, and motivation after a damaging opening loss make them clear favourites here. Panama are yet to score at this tournament and face a Croatian side that boasts some of the most experienced players in the competition. Even at short odds, Croatia to win is the most evidence-backed selection in this match.
Goals Market: Under 2.5 Goals — 10/11
Panama are defensively organised and have conceded just once in this tournament. Croatia may dominate possession but, given the compressed defensive shape Panama will deploy, this could be a tight affair with goals at a premium. Under 2.5 goals is available at near-even money and represents a reasonable play if Croatia struggle to break down a stubborn Panamanian backline.
Scorer Market: Andrej Kramaric Anytime Scorer
Kramaric is Croatia’s most clinical forward with 36 international goals from 116 caps, and leads Croatia’s recent scoring charts. He is the most reliable goal threat in Dalic’s squad and should feature prominently against a Panama side that has shown defensive fragility at times during qualifying. His record makes him the standout pick in the scorer markets.
Odds Across Operators
The following are the best available prices across leading operators at the time of writing.
Panama Win — 6/1
Draw — 3/1
Croatia Win — 4/7
Over 2.5 Goals — 11/10
Under 2.5 Goals — 10/11
How to Watch + How to Bet
How to Watch
Panama vs Croatia kicks off at 19:00 local time (23:00 BST) on Tuesday 23 June 2026 at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada. UK viewers can watch live on BBC / iPlayer. The match is also available via ITV in the UK, and internationally across CTV and TSN in Canada, Fox and Telemundo in the USA, and NOS in the Netherlands.
How to Bet
To get the best available price on Panama vs Croatia, follow these steps:
- Compare odds across leading operators to find the best available price on your chosen market.
- Check whether an enhanced odds or welcome offer applies to this fixture.
- Select your market: match result, goals line, or a scorer bet.
- Review the bet slip carefully before confirming your stake.
- Consider a bet builder combining match result with a goals market for a combined return.
- For an accumulator, combine Croatia to win with other Group L results on the same night.
- Set a budget for this fixture before placing any bets.
- Check kick-off time and confirm your bet is settled before the match begins.
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