Croatia stays alive for World Cup knockout round and eliminates Panama with 1-0 win

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Croatia's Ante Budimir (11) celebrates a goal against Panama during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match, in Toronto, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Croatia's Mateo Kovacic (8) and Panama's Jose Fajardo (17) vie for the ball during the World Cup Group L soccer match between Panama and Croatia in Toronto, Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) — Croatia's Ante Budimir (11) celebrates a goal against Panama during the second half of a World Cup Group L soccer match, in Toronto, on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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9:07 PM on Tuesday, June 23

By LEXIE LINDERMAN

TORONTO (AP) — Josip Stanišić lifted a curving cross onto the boot of Ante Budimir, who tapped it into an open net in the 54th minute Tuesday, giving Croatia a 1-0 win over Panama in the World Cup.

Croatia remains in contention for the knockout round ahead of its third and final group-stage match against Ghana on Saturday. Panama was eliminated and is still seeking its first World Cup point in two appearances.

After a slow-moving first half at BMO Field, Croatia broke through Panama’s strong back line after the break, with substitute Budimir finding the net just four minutes after coming on.

The Vatreni nearly added another goal three minutes later when 40-year-old Luka Modrić — making his 200th international appearance — passed ahead to Marco Pašalić on a breakaway, but Panama goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera blocked Pašalić’s shot.

Panama had three straight chances in the 67th minute to knot things up. Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made a trio of dazzling saves; on the third, he just managed to get a hand on the ball and send it over the net.

Group L will be decided on Saturday, with England and Ghana tied at four points and Croatia with three. England will face Los Canaleros in East Rutherford, New Jersey, while Ghana and Croatia will play in Philadelphia.

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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup