Croatia celebrated Luka Modric’s 200th international appearance with a crucial 1-0 victory over Panama on June 24, 2026, at Toronto Stadium. Substitute Ante Budimir scored the only goal in the 54th minute, keeping Croatia’s hopes alive in Group L of the World Cup. The 2018 runners-up now remain in contention for the knockout stage, while Panama’s second consecutive defeat confirmed their exit from the tournament.

The match was a must-win for both sides. Croatia started aggressively, with Modric heading wide early on, but Panama created the better chances in the first half. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic made key saves to deny Murillo and José Luis Rodríguez. Budimir’s decisive strike came from a precise cross by Josip Stanisic, and despite Panama’s late pressure, Croatia held firm.

With this win, Croatia strengthened their position in Group L, trailing England and Ghana by just one point. A victory over Ghana in their final group match would secure their place in the knockout round.