Preview: Panama vs Croatia – latest news, lineups, absences | 2026 World Cup (24/06/2026)

Last update at 22 June, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 5 minutes

Group stage clash between Panama vs Croatia.

Panama and Croatia face off in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Panama and Croatia face each other on matchday two of the 2026 World Cup group stage. The match will be played at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada, and is extremely important for both teams, as they both lost their opening games.

Fans who do not want to miss any details can check our guide on how to watch Panama vs Croatia live and follow all the action from anywhere.

Panama lost to Ghana with a goal in stoppage time; Croatia were beaten by England after being outplayed for much of the match. Victory is vital for both sides, as another defeat could leave them with one foot out of the World Cup.

Latest News: How the Two Teams Arrive

Both Panama and Croatia are at the bottom of Group L and need to respond if they want a chance of qualifying for the Round of 32. Both teams arrive with doubts and concerns, but they know that a win could be the turning point they need to put together a positive campaign in the tournament.

Panama

The Caribbean side competed well against Ghana. However, Thomas Christiansen’s men paid dearly for their only mistake of the match. It came in added time when they failed to stop an African counterattack. A tactical foul would have secured a valuable point, but that mistake condemned them to fight for qualification in their two remaining matches against the group’s European teams: Croatia and England.

Croatia

The Balkan side, meanwhile, showed their attacking strengths in the first half against England by scoring two goals, but defensively they displayed worrying vulnerability. England could have scored four goals if it had not been for the excellent performance of goalkeeper Livakovic, who was one of Croatia’s best players. Zlatko Dalic knows his players must improve significantly if they want to dream of continuing in the 2026 World Cup.

Probable Lineups

No major changes are expected in the lineup Thomas Christiansen will field for Panama. The Danish coach knows that a few adjustments could be enough. For Croatia, players such as Kovacic and Budimir are expected to feature in Zlatko Dalic’s starting eleven.

Position	–Panama	–Croatia
Goalkeeper	Mosquera	Livakovic
Defenders	Andrade Córdoba Ramos Murillo Blackman	Sutalo Gvuardiol Pasalic Stanisic
Midfielders	Bárcenas Harvey Londono Rodríguez	Modric Kovasic Baturina Perisic
Forwards	Waterman	Musa Budimir

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Tactical Analysis: Croatia to Control the Game

In their 2026 World Cup opener, Zlatko Dalic’s side suffered because they failed to control midfield. England found it far too easy to create chances against them. As a result, Croatia will look to dominate possession and pin Panama back into their own area. If they achieve that, they will have a strong chance of winning, as sustained pressure will create opportunities for players like Musa and Budimir, who are specialists in finishing chances.

Panama, meanwhile, will aim to remain solid defensively and attack on the counter with space available. The key for Thomas Christiansen’s men will be defending their penalty area effectively. They may struggle against crosses, and if they are not decisive when protecting their goal, they will have little chance of achieving a positive result.

Key Players to Watch

The players who appear most important for each team are Modric for Croatia and Murillo for Panama.

Modric – Croatia

Despite already being 40 years old, Luka Modric remains Croatia’s guiding light. The former Real Madrid player and current Milan midfielder is the one who organizes everything and helps his teammates perform better. Against England, he lasted an hour. That will be the key for Dalic—knowing how long Modric can maintain his level. If Modric performs well, Croatia should be able to overcome Panama.

Murillo – Panama

For Panama, one player to keep a close eye on is Murillo. The right-back, who operates as a wing-back for the Caribbean side, is a fundamental piece of the team. If he performs well, Thomas Christiansen’s men can create danger on the counterattack thanks to his explosive runs forward. The Danish coach knows he needs the best version of all his players, especially Murillo.

Market Analysis and Odds

In this second group stage match of the 2026 World Cup, a more aggressive and compact Croatian side is expected compared to their opening game. The Vatreni have better individual players, and if they perform at their best level, they should defeat Panama.

Bookmakers and the current 2026 World Cup odds agree, with a Croatia victory priced between 1.52 and 1.57. What the markets do not expect is a high-scoring game. This is reflected in the odds for under 3.5 goals, which range between 1.30 and 1.35.

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Final Prediction

Croatia enters as the favorite due to its individual quality and experience in these types of scenarios. However, Panama already showed against Ghana that it can compete and make things very difficult if it finds space on the counterattack.

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