Croatia 1 – 0 Panama

WORLDCUP · June 23, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

Croatia one, Panama zero, and it was the Croatians who ground out a result that felt inevitable once they settled into their rhythm at the back half of this match. Panama came out with energy and actually generated more total attempts on the night — eight to Croatia's six — but when it mattered, when the ball needed to find the net, Croatia's finishing was just sharper. One goal, and that was enough.

Panama's Amir Murillo was their most dangerous attacking presence, putting three total shots on the night, and José Córdoba was a wall in the back with fourteen defensive interventions, but Orlando Mosquera was only asked to make one save, which tells you Croatia wasn't exactly pouring forward either. They didn't need to.

The difference was control. Croatia held fifty-eight percent of possession, worked seven corner kicks to Panama's two, and Luka Modric — at whatever age he is now still doing this — was the engine, completing sixty-nine accurate passes and simply dictating the tempo whenever Panama tried to press. Marco Pasalic chipped in two shots as Croatia probed patiently until the decisive moment arrived.

Panama committed nineteen fouls trying to disrupt that Croatian rhythm, and it cost them field position repeatedly. In the end, one clean finish was all Croatia needed, and Modric made sure they always had the ball long enough to find it.

Croatia advances. Panama heads home. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 110 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Attempt missed. Luka Modric (Croatia) header from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Marco Pasalic with a cross. 2'

Cristian Martínez (Panama) wins a free kick on the right wing. 3'

Foul by Josko Gvardiol (Croatia). 3'

Attempt blocked. Amir Murillo (Panama) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. 4'

Foul by Jiovany Ramos (Panama). 5'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 5'

Foul by Carlos Harvey (Panama). 6'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 6'

Carlos Harvey (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 8'

Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Croatia). 8'

José Luis Rodríguez (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 13'

Foul by Luka Modric (Croatia). 13'

Cristian Martínez (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 22'

Foul by Josko Gvardiol (Croatia). 22'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 23'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 26'

Foul by Cristian Martínez (Panama). 28'

Josko Gvardiol (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 28'

Foul by Yoel Bárcenas (Panama). 29'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing. 29'

Handball by Cristian Martínez (Panama). 34'

Foul by José Córdoba (Panama). 36'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 36'

Foul by José Luis Rodríguez (Panama). 38'

Josip Stanisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 38'

Foul by Amir Murillo (Panama). 40'

Josko Gvardiol (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 40'

José Fajardo (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 44'

Foul by Josip Sutalo (Croatia). 44'

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time. 45'

Foul by Cristian Martínez (Panama). 45'+1'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 45'+1'

Attempt missed. Martin Baturina (Croatia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ivan Perisic. 45'+1'

Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Orlando Mosquera. 45'+2'

First Half ends, Panama 0, Croatia 0. 45'+4'

Substitution, Croatia. Ante Budimir replaces Petar Musa. 45'

Substitution, Croatia. Andrej Kramaric replaces Josko Gvardiol. 45'

Second Half begins Panama 0, Croatia 0. 45'

Foul by José Fajardo (Panama). 47'

Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 47'

Foul by José Luis Rodríguez (Panama). 49'

Josip Stanisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 49'

Offside, Croatia. Andrej Kramaric is caught offside. 50'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Marco Pasalic. 52'

Foul by José Córdoba (Panama). 53'

Ante Budimir (Croatia) wins a free kick on the left wing. 53'

Goal! Panama 0, Croatia 1. Ante Budimir (Croatia) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Josip Stanisic with a cross. 54'

José Fajardo (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 56'

Foul by Josip Sutalo (Croatia). 56'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Marin Pongracic. 56'

Attempt saved. Marco Pasalic (Croatia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Orlando Mosquera (Panama). Assisted by Luka Modric with a through ball. 57'

Attempt missed. Marco Pasalic (Croatia) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left following a fast break. 57'

Foul by César Blackman (Panama). 58'

Marco Pasalic (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing. 58'

Attempt missed. José Fajardo (Panama) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Amir Murillo with a cross. 60'

Foul by José Córdoba (Panama). 60'

Marco Pasalic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 60'

Foul by Yoel Bárcenas (Panama). 61'

Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 61'

Yoel Bárcenas (Panama) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 61'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Josip Stanisic. 62'

Offside, Croatia. Marco Pasalic is caught offside. 64'

Foul by José Córdoba (Panama). 65'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 65'

Attempt saved. Amir Murillo (Panama) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Dominik Livakovic (Croatia). 68'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Dominik Livakovic. 68'

Attempt missed. Carlos Harvey (Panama) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Yoel Bárcenas with a cross following a corner. 68'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Dominik Livakovic. 68'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 69'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 72'

Substitution, Croatia. Luka Sucic replaces Marco Pasalic. 72'

Substitution, Croatia. Petar Sucic replaces Mateo Kovacic. 72'

Carlos Harvey (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 73'

Foul by Petar Sucic (Croatia). 73'

Offside, Panama. Cristian Martínez is caught offside. 74'

Substitution, Panama. Cecilio Waterman replaces Jiovany Ramos. 77'

Attempt missed. José Luis Rodríguez (Panama) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Cecilio Waterman. 78'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Josip Sutalo. 79'

Attempt missed. Carlos Harvey (Panama) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by José Luis Rodríguez with a cross following a corner. 79'

Foul by José Fajardo (Panama). 80'

Martin Baturina (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 80'

Substitution, Croatia. Mario Pasalic replaces Luka Modric. 81'

Attempt blocked. Luka Sucic (Croatia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 82'

Corner, Croatia. Conceded by Carlos Harvey. 82'

Cecilio Waterman (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 83'

Foul by Marin Pongracic (Croatia). 83'

Substitution, Panama. Azarías Londoño replaces José Fajardo. 83'

Attempt blocked. Cecilio Waterman (Panama) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yoel Bárcenas. 84'

César Blackman (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 89'

Foul by Mario Pasalic (Croatia). 89'

Foul by Cecilio Waterman (Panama). 89'

Josip Stanisic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 89'

Yoel Bárcenas (Panama) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'

Foul by Ante Budimir (Croatia). 90'

Substitution, Panama. Éric Davis replaces César Blackman. 90'

Substitution, Panama. Tomás Rodríguez replaces Yoel Bárcenas. 90'

Corner, Panama. Conceded by Marin Pongracic. 90'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 90'+1'

Cristian Martínez (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+1'

Foul by Ante Budimir (Croatia). 90'+1'

Tomás Rodríguez (Panama) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+2'

Foul by Petar Sucic (Croatia). 90'+2'

Petar Sucic (Croatia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 90'+2'

Attempt missed. Amir Murillo (Panama) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick. 90'+3'

Foul by Andrés Andrade (Panama). 90'+4'

Ante Budimir (Croatia) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Panama 0, Croatia 1. 90'+6'

Match ends, Panama 0, Croatia 1.