Panama Falls to Croatia 0-1 in World Cup 2026 Match

In the ongoing World Cup 2026, Croatia defeated Panama 1-0. This match concluded with a vital goal from Ante Budimir in the 54th minute.

The game took place on June 24, 2026, where Panama and Croatia faced off in a tense encounter. The match ended in a draw at halftime, with both teams unable to find the back of the net and the score remaining 0-0.

Initially, in the match, there were notable performances as Luka Modrić earned his 200th cap. Around the 54th minute, the breakthrough for Croatia came when Budimir scored following a well-placed cross from Marco Pasalić, who executed a clever pass behind his back to Stanišić. Budimir's precise shot confirmed the goal and provided Croatia with the much-needed lead.

Following the goal, Croatia's position in the group was significantly improved, lifting them to third place in their group standings. As it stood at the time, the standings were: 1) England (4 pts, +2 GD), 2) Ghana (4 pts, +1 GD), 3) Croatia (3 pts, -1 GD), and 4) Panama (0 pts, -2 GD).

In the closing moments of the match, Panama made several attempts to find an equalizer, pushing hard in the attack. Despite their efforts, including a few close chances in the final minutes, Croatia held firm defensively. A yellow card for Petar Sucić added to the tension late in the match. Ultimately, Croatia secured a crucial three points, while Panama faced elimination from the tournament after two hard-fought defeats.