Croatia beats Panama 1-0 to stay in World Cup contention as Modric earns 200th cap
A second-half tap-in by substitute Ante Budimir gave Croatia its first points of the 2026 World Cup and ended Panama's campaign, with Luka Modric reaching a landmark 200 appearances for his country.
Match summary
Croatia broke a goalless stalemate in the 54th minute when Josip Stanišić lifted a cross to the back post and Ante Budimir, on as a halftime substitute, tapped into an open net. The goal came after a first period described by several outlets as low on clear chances, though Panama had created some of the better openings before the break. Marco Pasalic then missed a chance to double the lead, bursting through alone but failing to beat the Panama goalkeeper and skying the rebound.
Modric's milestone
Croatia captain Luka Modric became the second European to win 200 international caps, a landmark noted across coverage of the match. The 40-year-old midfielder, a podium finisher at the last two World Cups, provided an assist for Pasalic and his presence helped steady a team that had lost its opening fixture.
Group L standings
Earlier on Tuesday, England and Ghana played out a 0-0 draw, leaving both sides on four points at the top of Group L. Croatia's win lifts it to three points, keeping it in the race for the knockout stage, while Panama sits last with zero points from two matches and is eliminated. Panama is still searching for its first World Cup point in two tournament appearances.
What's next
Croatia faces Ghana on Saturday in a decisive final group match, needing a victory to secure progression. Panama will depart the tournament after its concluding group fixture.
