Croatia open the scoring with Budimir’s header against Panama in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The group stage clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, between Panama and Croatia, continues with intense emotions at Toronto Field, where the score now registers 1-0 for the Croatians. The European team managed to open the scoring with a goal from striker Budimir, right at the beginning of the second half, in a move that kept the game going until ten minutes into the match. The fans are following every detail of this decisive duel, with Croatia seeking to consolidate its advantage and Panama trying to reverse the situation.
The goal that shook up the second half in Toronto
Eight minutes into the final stage, Croatia broke the deadlock with a well-worked move on the right. Stanisic advanced with speed, created a precise link with Pasalic and crossed low at the second post. The ball went past everyone in the area, including the goalkeeper, finding Budimir, who only had to push it into the back of the net, opening the scoring and giving the Croatian team the advantage. This crucial moment redefined the dynamics of the match, with Croatia gaining confidence and Panama seeking an immediate reaction.
Following the goal, Panama tried to respond. Seven minutes into the second half, Martínez took a short corner kick, seeking to surprise the opposing defense, but the play resulted in no real danger. Shortly before, after six minutes, the Panamanian team had already won another corner after a good pass from Martínez on the right, whose cross was cleared by the Croatian defense, demonstrating their intention to seek the attack.
The pace of the game was marked by interruptions and attempts to advance. After five minutes, Kramaric was called on the left wing, demonstrating agility to prevent the ball from going out, but the referee signaled an offside. There was a brief moment of concern for the Croatian team in the fourth minute, when goalkeeper Livakovic was left on the ground after a step by Martínez, interrupting the match. However, play was quickly resumed after it was confirmed that Livakovic was fit to continue.
QUE DEFESAÇAAAAAA! O jogo começou pegado e o Panamá ia abrindo o placar mas o goleirão croata fez isso aí 😱😱😱
— CazéTV (@CazeTVOficial) June 24, 2026
ESTAMOS AO VIVO COM CROÁCIA X PANAMÁ! 🤩🇵🇦🇭🇷https://t.co/i72y6FhBTH pic.twitter.com/UcYvS5J02k
The first movements of the second stage showed both teams looking for space. After three minutes, Perisic tried to play with Budimir to penetrate the Panamanian defense, but the return went straight down the sideline, frustrating the Croatian attack. A minute before, Fajardo was played deep on the left, but the Panamanian striker ended up leaving the sideline with possession of the ball. In the first minute, Fajardo pressured Modric on the ball, managing to steal it, but committed a foul afterwards, indicating the intensity with which the match resumed in Toronto.
Strategic break: analysis and substitutions in Croatia
The break period brought some tactical and squad changes for Croatia, aiming to reverse the first half’s stance and intensify offensive power. The Croatian team made two important substitutions: Kramaric entered the field in place of Gvardiol, and Budimir, the scorer of the goal, replaced Musa. These changes sought to give more aggressiveness to the attack and solidity to the team for the second stage.
Analysis of the first half revealed a surprisingly resilient and tactically daring Panama. Unlike what many expected, the Panamanian team did not adopt a defensive posture, but rather a proactive one, seeking possession of the ball and creating attacking opportunities. The ability of a team with less tradition in World Cups to dictate the pace and upset an experienced team like Croatia demonstrates the growing evolution of global football, where tactical preparation and self-confidence allow teams considered “lesser” to present remarkable performances. This tactical approach by the Panamanians, playing as equals, is an indication of the maturity of the CONCACAF teams, which have invested heavily in developing talent and strategies for high-level competitions, challenging the hierarchy established in the sport.
The Panamanians created the first big chance of the match in the fifteenth minute, when Murillo received the ball deep on the right, advanced and crossed hard into the small area. Fajardo threw himself in to try to finish, but narrowly missed the ball. The team maintained a consistent performance, even hitting the crossbar in a move that, unfortunately for them, was canceled for offside. After the hydration break, Croatia took more possession of the ball, but showed little creativity, only managing to give the opposing goalkeeper trouble in stoppage time. At forty-five minutes, Baturina finished firmly in the corner of the Panamanian goal, but Mosquera made a great save, spreading the ball across the baseline. Panama, with its direct and fast attack, was superior in the first half of the game, showing that it was not just on the field to defend itself.
Luka Modric: the Croatian maestro reaches historic milestone
The match against Panama is even more special for Luka Modric, the legendary midfielder of the Croatian national team, who completes 200 games wearing his country’s shirt. Modric, known for his vision of the game, precise passing and leadership on the pitch, reaches an impressive milestone in his career. His presence and experience are fundamental for Croatia, especially in decisive moments of a World Cup.
Timeline of the first stage: the key moments of the match
The first half of the match was intense and full of moves that kept the public attentive. Below are the main moments that marked the opening 48 minutes:
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- 01′ 1T – The first Croatian attempt:Stanisic advances from the right and crosses to Modric, who heads at the first post, but without direction, creating no danger.
- 03′ 1T – Panamanian pressure:Bárcenas takes a free kick in the area, the Croatian defense clears it, and Murillo takes advantage of the rebound to finish, but is blocked by the marking.
- 07′ 1T – Dangerous foul for Panama:Harvey is stopped with a free kick by Kovacic on the right, opening up an opportunity for a cross or shot.
- 12′ 1T – Verbal warning for Modric:The Croatian star arrives late in a dispute with Puma Rodríguez, commits a foul, and the referee simply warns him, despite the Panamanians’ requests for a card.
- 22′ 1Q – Panama’s disallowed goal:Puma Rodríguez heads after a cross, the ball deflects off Livakovic, hits the crossbar and goes out. The referee, however, signals that the ball had already gone over the baseline before the cross.
- 23′ 1T – Hydration break:The game is stopped so the athletes can hydrate and receive instructions from the coaches.
- 36′ 1Q – Modric’s rare error:In a rehearsed free kick, Modric misses the pass and, inadvertently, sets up a counterattack for Panama, who are unable to take advantage of the opportunity.
- 37′ 1T – Chance wasted by Panama:Murilo crosses from the right, Puma Rodríguez returns it to the center of the area, but no Panamanian attacker appears to finish the move.
- 45′ 1T – Great save by Mosquera:Baturina receives the ball at the edge of the area and finishes powerfully in the corner, but the Panamanian goalkeeper stretches and spreads the ball for a corner, avoiding the Croatian goal.
- 48′ 1T – End of the first half:The referee ends the first half of the game in Toronto, after three minutes of added time.
Main events of the first half
The initial stage of the game was full of moves and attempts from both sides, with Panama surprising with its offensive posture. After just six minutes, Modric launched Perisic on the left wing, but the striker’s cross was too strong, crossing the entire area without finding a teammate. In the previous minute, Modric attempted a throw to Perisic, which would be anticipated by Ramos, demonstrating the attention of the Panamanian defense.
In the fourth minute, Fajardo moved to the right, holding the ball with his back to the area, but ended up letting it go through the end line, and the assistant scored a goal kick. Two minutes earlier, Ramos launched Martínez on the right, and the Panamanian midfielder was stopped with a free kick by Gvardiol, indicating the intense competition for possession of the ball. After ten minutes, Puma tried a move on the left, but Stanisic demonstrated good defensive ability, disarming the opponent.
The match continued with Croatia looking for space and Panama remaining firm. At eleven minutes, Croatia stole the ball in the middle, Baturina was called in and tried to play in the center, but was disarmed by Andrés Andrade. At thirteen minutes, Baturina was launched into the area by Sutalo, he dominated with style, but ended up losing the angle to finish and had to restart the play. At fifteen minutes, Marco Pasalic received the ball on the right wing, cleared it to his left leg and crossed straight across the baseline, without finding anyone.
At seventeen minutes, Andrés broke through on the left, went deep and crossed backwards, but again there was no player to finish the move. Two minutes later, Baturina retreated to help with the creation and tried to pass the ball to Musa, which ended up going straight into the hands of goalkeeper Mosquera. At twenty minutes, Kovacic tried to advance through the middle, fell twice for a foul, but the referee ordered the game to continue, maintaining the intensity of the match. At twenty-one minutes, Martínez was launched from the right, advanced freely into the area and finished without an angle, but Livakovic, well positioned, made the save. At eighteen, Stanisic advanced down the right and crossed to the penalty spot, where Harvey coolly dominated and played.
After the hydration break, the match resumed at twenty-six minutes. Modric, who has played 200 games for Croatia, has had a discreet performance until then, barely appearing on the field. In the twenty-seventh minute, Martínez stole the ball from Gvardiol near the attacking area, but the referee awarded a foul to Croatia. At twenty-eight, Stanisic was activated on the right and crossed first time. Perisic jumped freely at the second post, but was unable to reach the ball.
In the twenty-ninth minute, Musa was fouled by Puma Rodríguez near the corner flag on the right, giving Croatia a good dead ball opportunity, with Modric and Pasalic on the kick. Modric took the penalty spot, and Harvey cleared the danger. At thirty-one, Gvardiol moved to attack on the left, but missed the throw to Perisic. In the next minute, Pasalic received the ball on the right wing, prevented the ball from coming out, cleared it to the left-hander and crossed to the second post, where Córdoba cleared it.
At thirty-three minutes, Pongracic made a bad mistake with the ball, allowing Martínez to be sent into the area, but Kovacic recovered well and regained possession. In the next minute, Pongracic made another mistake on the way out, sending a pass straight down the sideline. At thirty-five, Baturina moved in the middle and was stopped with a foul by Harvey. At thirty-seven, Murilo was called in from the right, cleared the ball to the left and crossed at the second post. Puma Rodríguez returned the ball to the center of the area, but no one appeared to finish, frustrating another Panamanian attack.
At thirty-eight minutes, Musa was launched at speed behind the defense, but was disarmed by Córdoba before entering the area. A minute later, Murillo received the ball once again on the right, left Gvardiol behind, entered the area, but lost possession while attempting another dribble. At forty, Kovacic looked for Perisic behind Murillo, but he threw it straight across the baseline. At forty-one, Puma Rodríguez was deployed on the left wing, dribbled past the marker and crossed at the second post, but the Croatian defense cleared it away in a sovereign manner. At forty-two, Croatia reduced the speed of the game and exchanged passes in search of spaces in attack. A minute later, Fajardo was called in to work as a pivot in midfield and was fouled by Sutalo.
In first-half stoppage time, at forty-four minutes, Pasalic received the ball one-on-one with Blackman, went deep and crossed for Perisic, but Murillo closed well and headed it away. At forty-six, Pasalic took a left-handed shot at the first post, and the Panamanian defense cleared the danger. A minute later, Harvey tried to reverse to the right, but sent it straight to the sideline, ending the first half with the score zero.
Preparations for the duel in Toronto
The atmosphere at Toronto Field was electric before kickoff, with players from Panama and Croatia already on the field for kickoff. The refereeing team responsible for conducting the match was made up of experienced professionals:
Referee team for the match
- Arbitrator:Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
- Assistants:Boris Ditsoga and Amos Abeigne (Gabon)
- Fourth referee:Khalid Alturais (Saudi Arabia)
- VAR:Nicolas Gallo (Colombia)
The expectation is for an exciting game, with both teams seeking victory in this group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Follow the main plays, goals and decisive moments of the game in real time with minute-by-minute coverage from the Mix Vale news portal. To not miss any updates, subscribe to Mix Vale notifications for free and receive news instantly, directly on your device.
