Panama vs Croatia Prediction, Preview and Best Bets | World Cup 2026

The pressure is on in Group L as Panama and Croatia meet in Toronto knowing that defeat could effectively end their hopes of reaching the Round of 32.

Both nations suffered opening-match losses, with Panama narrowly falling 1-0 to Ghana and Croatia losing a thrilling 4-2 encounter against England. That leaves this fixture as a virtual must-win contest for both sides heading into the final group matches.

Match Details:

• Fixture: Panama vs Croatia
• Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group L
• Date: 24 June 2026
• Venue: Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
• Kick-off: 00:00 SAST

After the opening round of matches:

• England – 3 points
• Ghana – 3 points
• Panama – 0 points
• Croatia – 0 points

A draw does little to help either team, while a victory keeps knockout qualification hopes alive.

Thomas Christiansen’s side produced a disciplined display against Ghana but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Panama remain in search of their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory and will once again rely heavily on captain Anibal Godoy and creative midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla.

Predicted Panama XI:

Mosquera; Blackman, Escobar, Cordoba, Andrade, Davis; Godoy, Carrasquilla, Harvey; Rodriguez, Fajardo.

Panama are expected to sit deep, stay compact and look to hurt Croatia through counter-attacks and set-pieces.

Croatia conceded four goals against England but still showed flashes of the quality that has made them one of the most consistent World Cup performers of the past decade. Coach Zlatko Dalic has made it clear there is no room for further mistakes.

Veteran maestro Luka Modric remains the heartbeat of the side, while Andrej Kramaric, Petar Musa and Ivan Perisic provide attacking threat.

Predicted Croatia XI:

Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic, Baturina; Perisic, Kramaric, Musa.

Croatia are expected to dominate possession and create the majority of chances.

• Panama Win: 6.50
• Draw: 4.00
• Croatia Win: 1.53
• Popular Markets
• Both Teams To Score – No: 1.75
• Under 2.5 Goals: 1.80
• Croatia Over 1.5 Team Goals: 1.77
• Andrej Kramaric Anytime Goalscorer: 2.25

Odds are approximate at the time of writing and may vary between bookmakers. If you’re unsure about how odds work. Take the the time to read our guide explaining betting odds.

Croatia to Win @ 1.53
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Croatia possess superior quality across the pitch and created enough opportunities against England to suggest they can bounce back here. Panama are organised but may struggle to contain Croatia’s attacking depth for the full match.

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Expect Croatia to take control of possession and eventually break down a resilient Panama side. While Panama have improved significantly since their 2018 World Cup appearance, Croatia’s midfield class and tournament experience should prove decisive.

Prediction: Panama 0-2 Croatia