Panama vs Croatia Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Panama began their FIFA World Cup campaign with a defeat as they now head into their second game against a Croatia side that were also beaten in their opener.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Panama preview: Edged out
Having reached the final of the CONCACAF Nations League and the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2025, former Leeds United boss Thomas Christiansen would have been confident that his Panama side could have been very awkward opponents for the rest of Group L, but they were left frustrated in their opener in Toronto.
Having been slightly the better of the two sides for much of the game against Ghana, particularly in the first half, Panama were eventually undone late on with midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scoring from close range deep into second-half stoppage time to deny Panama a much-needed point.
Croatia preview: Eventually blown away
Zlatko Dalic and his experienced Croatia side continued to show the remarkable resilience that they have displayed at the last two FIFA World Cups, reaching the final in 2018 and the semi-finals in 2022, in the first half of their opener against England - but their ageing side were blown away in the second half.
Having pegged England back twice in the first half with goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa, an English onslaught in the opening stages of the second half saw The Three Lions threaten to run away with things and they did eventually wrap up a 4-2 victory as Croatia struggled to get themselves back into the game.
Panama team news: Godoy could come back in
Panama took the surprise decision to leave all-time appearance maker and captain Anibal Godoy on the bench against Ghana but in a more defensive-minded setup, his experience may be pivotal and required to come back in.
Fellow midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla was a fitness doubt ahead of the opener and, despite being named on the bench, didn't come on and so will have to remain a doubt for this one, too.
Predicted XI (3-5-1-1): Mosquera; Andrade, Cordoba, Ramos; Murillo, Martinez, Godoy, Harvey, Blackman; Barcenas; Fajardo
Unavailable:
Questionable: Carrasquilla (Fitness)
Croatia team news: A change in shape
Usually playing a 4-2-3-1 or a flat 4-3-3, Zlatko Dalic went with a back three against England but it would be fair to assume that was in order to try and contain and frustrate a strong English side.
If Dalic was to revert back to his back four system it would likely involve Mario Pasalic, who was poor against England, dropping out for Mateo Kovacic to provide more balance in midfield, while Ivan Perisic may also drop out for Andrej Kramaric to provide more speed on the wings.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Livakovic; Stanisic, Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Kovacic, Modric, P. Sucic; Kramaric, Musa, Baturina
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Panama’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Michael Murillo ($5.0m) – Defender
Cesar Blackman ($3.7m) – Defender
Jose Fajardo ($4.7m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Michael Murillo
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Ismael Diaz, Eric Davis
Free kicks: Amir Murillo, Adalberto Carrasquilla
Corners: Jose Luis Rodriguez, Adalberto Carrasquilla
Croatia’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Josko Gvardiol ($5.0m) – Defender
Luka Vuskovic ($3.7m) – Defender
Luka Modric ($6.2m) – Midfielder
Matchday 2 captain pick: Martin Baturina
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Luka Modric, Ante Budimir, Ivan Perisic
Free kicks: Luka Modric
Corners: Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric
Key stats
- Panama are aiming for a first positive result at the FIFA World Cup having lost their first four matches in the competition.
- Édgar Yoel Bárcenas, José Luis Rodríguez and Aníbal Godoy are the only players to have made an appearance in all four of Panama’s World Cup matches to date.
- Only three of Croatia’s 31 previous FIFA World Cup matches finished goalless.
- The defeat against England in their opening match ended a six-match unbeaten run in FIFA World Cup group stage matches for Croatia (W4 D2).
- Luka Modrić could make his 200th international appearance for Croatia, becoming only the second European men’s player to reach the landmark.
- Luka Modrić has featured in each of Croatia’s last 20 FIFA World Cup matches — a streak that began after their opening game of the 2006 finals against Brazil.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Panama vs Croatia prediction
Panama were expected to be solid in the group stage and they generally were against Ghana, showing more proactivity on the ball than was to be expected, albeit wasteful in front of goal and reliant on the Black Stars giving the ball away frequently in Toronto to find themselves in decent positions in the final third.
Croatia will be expected to keep the ball a fair bit better than Ghana and so Panama will have to be patient and a bit more reactive, although that may even suit them during their second game in Canada.
The ability to sit back and frustrate a Croatia side that began to be laboured in the second half against England, especially with their familiarity with conditions, makes siding with Panama avoiding defeat and springing a surprise in Group L potentially a decent value bet here.
Panama vs Croatia betting tip: Double chance – Panama or draw
