Croatia Beat Panama 1-0 as Modric Marks 200th Cap

Croatia opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Panama at Toronto Stadium, thanks to Ante Budimir’s 54th-minute winner from a Josip Stanišić cross. Panama impressed in the first half and came close to scoring on several occasions, but goalkeeper Dominik Livaković produced a series of crucial saves to keep Croatia ahead. The match was a memorable occasion for captain Luka Modrić, who celebrated his 200th international appearance with a victory, while Panama’s Cristian Martínez was named Player of the Match despite his side’s defeat. The result earned Croatia three vital points and confirmed Panama’s elimination from the tournament with one group-stage game remaining.