Get our Panama vs Croatia prediction, predicted lineups, and betting tips. Find the best odds and bet builder picks for Wednesday's World Cup clash.
Panama vs Croatia Match Summary
Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|
Match Date | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
Match Time | 00:00 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Toronto, Toronto Stadium |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | BBC 1, RTE 2 |
Panama and Croatia meet at Toronto Stadium in Group L of World Cup 2026, with both nations chasing their first points after losing their opening fixtures.
Panama arrive stung by a 1-0 defeat to Ghana, beaten by a 95th-minute winner despite more than matching their opponents for long spells of the contest.
Croatia lost 4-2 to England in Dallas, a chastening afternoon that exposed a defence well below the standards Zlatko Dalic usually demands from this group.
This is the first-ever meeting between the two nations, and with both rooted to the bottom of the table, defeat here would all but end one side's tournament.
Panama vs Croatia Form
Panama were unbeaten across their CONCACAF qualifying campaign, finishing top of their group, and carried that into a stubborn opener against Ghana. Jose Cordoba set a national record with 101 passes, while Amir Murillo created three clear chances. Finishing remains the obvious weakness, with no goals to show for their efforts.
Croatia topped their UEFA qualifying group and averaged plenty of goals along the way, but the 4-2 loss to England laid bare a leaky defence. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa found the net, offering attacking encouragement, yet the engine room around Luka Modric must tighten up to give that forward line a platform.
Panama vs Croatia Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Panama: No injuries or suspensions reported.
Croatia: No injuries or suspensions reported.
Panama
Panama do not carry many goals in the side, and with their tournament life on the line they could turn to Ismael Diaz, who has scored more than anyone else in the squad. Otherwise there is unlikely to be much change after a solid showing against Ghana.
Croatia
Experienced midfielder Mateo Kovacic could come into the middle alongside Luka Modric to add control. Marin Pongracic is also pushing for a start and could replace young Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic as Croatia look to shore up at the back.
Panama vs Croatia Predicted Lineup
Panama
Formation: 3-4-3
Predicted Starting Lineup: O. Mosquera; A. Andrade, J. Cordoba, J. Ramos; C. Blackman, Y. Barcenas, C. Harvey, A. Murillo; J. L. Rodriguez, C. Waterman, I. Diaz.
Croatia
Formation: 3-4-2-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: D. Livakovic; J. Gvardiol, J. Sutalo, M. Pongracic; I. Perisic, L. Modric, M. Kovacic, J. Stanisic; P. Sucic, M. Baturina; P. Musa.
Panama vs Croatia Key Stats & Match Facts
Panama held 62% possession against Ghana, completing 502 passes at an 89% success rate.
Croatia registered 10 shots with five on target against England but shipped 22 shots in return.
Panama have scored only two goals in their entire World Cup history, both back in 2018.
Croatia averaged 3.25 goals per game in qualifying yet conceded four in their opener.
This is the first competitive meeting ever between Panama and Croatia.
Panama vs Croatia Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Croatia carry the quality and the attacking edge to settle this, and we fancy them to win with both teams struggling at the back. Panama 1-2 Croatia is our call.
Best Bets
Croatia are the standout pick to take the points at 4/7 with AK Bets, with seven wins from their last 10 outings making them the clear side to get behind here.
For added value across a separate market, Both Teams To Score Yes appeals at 21/20 with AK Bets, given Croatia's threat through Petar Musa and Panama's willingness to push forward.
Panama vs Croatia Bet Builder
Our four-leg bet builder leans on Croatia's class: a Croatia win, Over 1.5 Croatia goals, plus Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic both to find the net.
The Croatia win anchors the slip, with seven victories in their last nine matches making them the clear side to get behind and seven wins from their recent outings tells you all you need to know.
Over 1.5 Croatia goals fits a side that has hit that mark in each of their last four outings, and Panama's defence will be tested all night.
Petar Musa carries a strong scoring record and netted against England, so backing him to score again makes plenty of sense in a game Croatia should dominate.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 5/2.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Panama vs Croatia Talking Points
This is a genuine must-win fixture for both sides after opening defeats, and the storyline is set up nicely. Luka Modric is in line for his 200th cap, a milestone for one of the finest midfielders the game has seen. Panama have evolved into a controlled, possession-based outfit and will fancy chasing a historic first World Cup point, but Croatia's superior firepower should tell if their defence steadies after a messy afternoon against England.
Panama vs Croatia Predictions FAQs
When is the Panama vs Croatia World Cup game?
The Panama vs Croatia match is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday 24 June 2026 at 00:00 UK time.
What is the prediction for Panama vs Croatia?
Croatia are the favourites to win this World Cup fixture, but Panama will look to cause an upset. Check our full match analysis for the best prediction.
Where can I find Panama vs Croatia lineups?
Confirmed lineups for both Panama and Croatia will be announced shortly before kick-off, but predicted starting elevens are available in our preview.
What are the best betting tips for Panama vs Croatia?
Our top betting tips include looking at the match odds and exploring bet builder options, which are detailed in our comprehensive match preview.
Disclaimer
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