Panama vs Croatia: Two Beaten Teams, One Last Chance

Predictions

Croatia are the clear favorites, and most people expect their quality to shine through in the end.

But both teams are desperate for a win, so neither side will hold anything back.

• Our prediction: Croatia win 2-1, with Modric pulling the strings.
• BetMGM: a Croatia win, the favorites bouncing back.
• Squawka: Croatia to win, with Croatia over 1.5 goals.
• SportPesa: a Croatia win on the back of their superior quality.

Why this game is win or bust?

Here is what makes this one so tense.

Both Panama and Croatia walked off the field beaten in their first game.

Panama lost 0-1 to Ghana and could not find a single goal.

Croatia lost 2-4 to England and let in 4 goals, which is a lot for a team this good.

So both sit on 0 points, while England and Ghana already have 3 points each at the top of the group.

That means the loser of this game is almost certainly out of the World Cup.

When the stakes are that high, even the best players start to feel the pressure.

Why Croatia are the favorites?

Croatia are 10th in the FIFA rankings, and they have the kind of experience money cannot buy.

This is the team that reached the World Cup final in 2018, so they know exactly how to win the games that matter.

A lot of it runs through their captain Luka Modric, a midfielder who controls the game with smart, simple passes.

When he is on the ball, Croatia look calm and dangerous at the same time.

Zlatko Dalic is the man in charge, and he is the same one who guided them to that 2018 final.

The bookmakers back them too, because they make Croatia strong favorites at about -188, which is roughly a 64% chance to win.

Panama sit way out at about +550, and the draw is around +300, so Croatia are the clear pick.

Why Panama can make this tricky?

Panama are 46th in the FIFA rankings, so on paper they are the underdog by some distance.

But they showed against Ghana that they fight hard and do not give defenders an easy night.

Their winger Jose Luis Rodriguez is quick and direct, and he loves running straight at the back line.

If he gets going, Croatia's tired legs could be in for a long evening.

Thomas Christiansen has built a team that is brave and well organized.

And there is a clear motivation, because a loss here would end Panama's World Cup with a game still to play.

So if they take their chances this time, Panama really do have a shot at causing one of the upsets of the group stage.

Our call: Croatia 2-1

We are going with Croatia 2-1.

Croatia have the better players and a captain who can decide a game on his own.

We think their skill on the ball is the difference over 90 minutes.

But we do not see this being comfortable.

Panama defended bravely against Ghana, and they will not just roll over here.

So we expect a nervous finish, with Croatia getting there but having to sweat for it.

What is at stake?

Right now England and Ghana sit at the top of Group L with 3 points each.

Croatia and Panama are both stuck on 0 points after losing their openers.

Each group sends its top 2 teams through to the next round, and a few of the strongest 3rd-place teams squeeze in as well.

So the math is brutal for these two right now.

Win, and you climb back into the fight with one game left to save your tournament.

Lose, and you would need both other results to fall your way just to have a tiny hope.

That is what turns a game between two beaten teams into the most stressful 90 minutes of the group.

Where and when can you watch?

The game is on Tuesday June 23, 2026, at BMO Field stadium in Toronto.

Kickoff is 19:00 (7:00 PM) Eastern time.

You can also see all the details on the match page.

Need a seat for it? Take a look at our World Cup tickets guide.