Croatia and Panama face World Cup reckoning in Toronto after opening defeats
Both teams lost their first matches and now meet at Estadio Toronto with knockout hopes at stake. Croatia fell 4-2 to England, while Panama lost 1-0 to Ghana.
Group L stakes
After both sides fell to defeat in their opening matches, Panama and Croatia meet on the second matchday of Group L with no margin for error. Panama lost 1–0 to Ghana, conceding a stoppage-time goal, while Croatia was beaten 4–2 by England. A second loss for either would all but end hopes of reaching the knockout phase. Spanish reports refer to the next round as the "dieciseisavos de final" (round of 32), though German coverage mentions the round of 16. Group L remains open, but the loser of this encounter will likely be eliminated before the final group game.
Croatia's aging golden generation
Croatia enters the match as the higher-ranked side but under enormous pressure. The Vatreni reached the final in 2018 and the semifinals in 2022, yet their core is ageing and the 2026 cycle is widely seen as the last stand for the generation led by Luka Modric. The captain again leads the starting eleven, and the match is billed as likely his final World Cup. Croatian media and fans expect nothing less than a victory to keep the dream of a third deep run alive.
Panama's late heartbreak
Panama is recovering from a cruel opening loss. A stoppage-time goal by Ghana handed the Central Americans a 1–0 defeat, leaving them bottom of the group with no points. The team, appearing in only its second World Cup, now faces the more experienced Croats knowing that another defeat would effectively end their tournament. The match kicks off at 19:00 local time in Toronto (01:00 Wednesday Belgian time) and will define each side's chances of staying in contention.
What's at stake
Victory would propel either team into the mix for a top-two finish or a potential best-third-place slot to reach the round of 32. Croatia is considered the favourite, but defensive frailties exposed by England and Panama's resolute showing against Ghana suggest a tight contest. With Modric orchestrating play and a young Panamanian squad eager to make history, the clash is poised to be a tense, high-stakes affair.
