The Panama Boys Played Hard but They Fell with Dignity to a High-Level Croatia Soccer Team
Pictured below, chosen by the fans: Panama’s Cristian Martínez, your Superior Player of the Match. Spain was also beaten by Croatia 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup in a match also played at Toronto Stadium.
Panama’s national soccer team lost 1-0 to Croatia at Toronto Stadium, a match of great tactical quality and physical demand, where the team led by Thomas Christiansen showed moments of good football despite the adverse result. The match came with both teams needing points, after Panama lost 1-0 to Ghana in their debut, while Croatia had fallen 4-2 to England, making this duel a turning point within the group.
From the opening minutes, the match was played with intensity and balance. Panama tried to build from the back, while Croatia focused on possession with Luka Modric and Kovacic as the midfield anchors. Minute by minute, the Panamanian team grew in confidence. In the 17th minute, José Fajardo nearly connected with a dangerous cross from Michael Amir Murillo, but couldn’t quite get a shot off. Two minutes later, Panama began to settle into a mid-block, closing down space and forcing Croatia to play wide.
Players from the Panamanian national team defend an aerial play during their match against Croatia.
The clearest chance of the first half came in the 23rd minute when José Luis Rodríguez won the header in the box, beating Dominik Livakovic, but the ball crashed against the crossbar, during the national team’s best attacking spell. Shortly afterward, the match was stopped for a cooling break, halting Panama’s momentum. Chile continued to press forward with attacks down the wings, especially through Amir Murillo, sending crosses into the box that failed to find a target.
However, Croatia managed to withstand the pressure and maintain their defensive shape in the final stages of the first half. In the second half, the game changed decisively. Croatia made attacking adjustments with the introduction of Andrej Kramaric and Ante Budimir, increasing their presence in the Panamanian penalty area. Panama, for its part, maintained its structure and tried to respond with quick counter-attacks.
Cristian Martínez had a Fantastic Game, Attacking, Defending, and Fighting for every Ball
The 54th minute marked the turning point of the match. After a move down the right flank, a cross was headed in by Ante Budimir to give Croatia a 1-0 lead, following a run that saw him beat César Blackman. From then on, the game became more difficult for Panama, who tried to respond with different attacking options. “I’m proud of my players. They played a great game. They didn’t create many dangers for us, and I’m proud of them,” said Thomas Christiansen, coach of the Panama national team, after the match.
Thomas Christiansen made a substitution in the 77th minute, bringing on Cecilio Waterman, followed by Azarías Londoño in the 83rd minute, and later Eric Davis and Tomás Rodríguez in the final window, trying to refresh the attack and open up spaces against a well-structured Croatian defense. Croatia also adjusted its squad in the final minutes, most notably the departure of Luka Modric in the 81st minute, amid applause from the stadium, in a gesture that reflected his historical weight in world football.
In the final stretch, Panama tried to advance their lines and managed some consecutive corner kicks, especially after shots from Carlos Harvey and set-piece actions, but without managing to break the European defensive order. “It’s a shame about the result, but there’s one more game and we have to face it with the same responsibility,” said Michael Amir Murillo after the game. The match was played in front of 43,036 spectators at Toronto Stadium, in a World Cup atmosphere that accompanied a high level of competition. With this defeat, Panama will close its participation in this tournament next Saturday, June 27, when it faces England.
