Croatia 1-0 Panama World Cup 2026: Budimir Sub Winner, Modric's 200th Cap, Livakovic Heroic — Group L Report
Updated: June 23 2026
CRO: Budimir 54' (sub, from Stanisic cross)
Modric: 200th international cap · Livakovic crucial late saves · Panama eliminated
Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in a tense Group L survival match at BMO Field in Toronto. Both teams entered Matchday 2 without a point. Ante Budimir — a halftime substitute — scored the only goal in the 54th minute, finishing Josip Stanisic's cross at the far post. Dominik Livakovic made several crucial saves as Panama pressed desperately for an equalizer. Luka Modric earned his 200th international cap, receiving a standing ovation when substituted in the 70th minute. Panama are eliminated. Croatia move to 3 points in third place.
Match Report — Croatia 1-0 Panama: Budimir Changes the Match, Livakovic Saves It
It was a match Croatia needed to win and, ultimately, did — but not comfortably. Panama were the better side in the first half, organised, direct and dangerous on the counter through Michael Murillo at right wingback. Their best moment came when a Murillo cross found José Luis Rodríguez, whose powerful header was tipped onto the crossbar by Livakovic in a moment of outstanding goalkeeping. At halftime, 0-0, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic acted decisively: he brought on Ante Budimir and Nikola Kramaric and even took off Josko Gvardiol — one of the world's best defenders — to add attacking weight.
The change worked within nine minutes. A Stanisic run down the right produced a low cross that Budimir met at the far post — a striker's finish, simple and lethal. 1-0. Croatia had their goal. What followed was 35 minutes of Panama pressure and Livakovic heroics. The Croatian goalkeeper made three saves of real quality in the final half-hour, culminating in a remarkable reflex stop to deny a point-blank Panama header. When the final whistle blew, Livakovic fell to his knees. He had saved Croatia's World Cup almost single-handedly.
Luka Modric's 200th Cap — A Moment for Football History
Luka Modric earned his 200th international cap for Croatia against Panama — becoming one of only a handful of players in football history to reach that milestone for a single country. He is 38 years old, still technically exceptional and still capable of controlling a game from midfield with his passing range and movement. But at 200 caps and 38 years old, every Croatia match could be his last at a World Cup. When Dalic substituted him in the 70th minute — not a tactical decision but a symbolic one, giving Modric his moment — every person in BMO Field stood. The Croatian captain raised his fist and walked slowly to the dugout. It was one of the most emotional moments of the 2026 tournament.
Modric's career achievements — Real Madrid captain, Champions League winner four times, Ballon d'Or 2018, World Cup finalist 2018 — place him among the greatest midfielders in football history. His ability to still perform at this level at 38 is extraordinary. Whether this is his final World Cup match or whether Croatia advance for him to play one more, the 200th cap moment will be one of the images of this tournament.
Why Were Panama Eliminated So Early?
Panama lost both their Group L matches — 0-1 to Ghana in Matchday 1 (a stoppage-time winner) and 0-1 to Croatia in Matchday 2 (a 54th-minute Budimir goal). On paper, the scorelines look like comfortable defeats. In practice, Panama competed well in both matches and were not dominated. They were simply punished by the moments of quality that their opponents produced when it mattered — and their own inability to convert their own chances, particularly the Rodríguez header that hit the crossbar against Croatia.
Panama's World Cup record now stands at: 2018 — eliminated in the group stage (0 points), 2026 — eliminated in the group stage (0 points). As the first CONCACAF nation to make a World Cup other than Mexico and Costa Rica in recent decades, the mere presence at two World Cups is an achievement. But the quality gap with Europe and South America at this level remains significant.
Group L Final Standings After Matchday 2
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏴 England | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 4 | |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 3 | |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 | Eliminated |
How Many World Cup Goals and Caps Does Luka Modric Have?
Luka Modric has scored 3 World Cup goals across four tournaments — Germany 2006, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 (where Croatia reached the final) and Qatar 2022. His 200 international caps include appearances in European Championship qualifiers, Nations League, World Cup qualifiers and major tournament finals. No other active international player has more caps for their country in European football. His longevity — maintaining starting XI quality for Croatia into his late 30s — is genuinely unprecedented for a technically-based midfielder.
What Happens to Croatia in Group L Now?
Croatia face Ghana in their final Group L match on Saturday June 28. They need a win to guarantee qualification for the Round of 32. A draw would leave them on 4 points — tied with both England and Ghana — and their fate would depend on goal difference. A loss eliminates them. Dalic has confirmed that Modric will be available to play against Ghana if his body allows — the substitution against Panama was precautionary and not injury-related. The Croatia-Ghana match is now one of the most consequential in Group L.
